David, Hazlewood combine for Australia's 9th straight T20I win

Tim David batted around top-order wreckage, smashing eight sixes in his whirlwind knock that pushed Australia to a winning total of 178 in the T20I series opener against South Africa in Darwin.

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The impressive 19-year-old pacer Kwena Maphaka's 4-20 was then eclipsed by Josh Hazlewood, as South Africa fell short in chase. This was Australia's record ninth straight win - their longest winning streak in T20Is, surpassing eight wins between February 2024 and June 2024.

Mitchell Marsh kickstarted the Aussie summer with a six over extra cover off Lungi Ngidi. That paved the way for a chaotic PowerPlay where Australia lost four wickets while hitting 71 runs. Kagiso Rabada didn't let the Aussie opening pair of Marsh and Travis Head blossom beyond the second over as he dismissed the latter for just two. George Linde then saw the back of Josh Inglis for a first-ball duck. Marsh was gone by the start of the fourth over too but Tim David and Cameron Green swung for the hills when the restriction was still on.

Green started off with two fours and a six against Linde in the third over and David smashed Rabada - including a disdainful six down the ground. The pair went after Corbin Bosch in an 18-over over before Green lived and died by the sword against Ngidi in the sixth over. He fell for a 13-ball 35.