David smashes 83 as Australia beat S.Africa by 17 runs in T20 series opener

Tim David crunched eight sixes in a blistering 83 from 52 balls to help Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs in their opening Twenty20 clash in Darwin on Sunday.

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After being sent in, the hosts were all out for 178 on the final delivery of their 20 overs in the first game of international cricket in Australia’s tropical north for 17 years.

Cameron Green (35 off 13) was the only other batsman to get going, with left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka bagging 4-20 as South Africa bowled out Australia for the first time in a T20.

But David's phenomenal innings proved enough, with the Proteas restricted to 161-9 in reply. That was despite a battling 71 from Ryan Rickelton, who fell to a spectacular Glenn Maxwell catch on the boundary.

Josh Hazlewood took 3-27 and Ben Dwarshuis 3-26.