Mitchell Marsh bludgeons Australia to T20 series win over SA

Marsh cracked six sixes and seven fours in his 76 not out off 39 balls on a chilly Friday evening at Kingsmead, Durban, securing the three-match series with one to play.

Put in to bat by Marsh, the Proteas initially went along smartly. Temba Bavuma farmed the strike and was eventually dismissed for 35 off 17 after a top edge went sky high for wicketkeeper Josh Inglis to clean up.

The visitors then wrestled back the initiative with three quick wickets, as Jason Behrendorff trapped Rassie van der Dussen for LBW before Nathan Ellis did the same to Reeza Hendricks and then had young pretender Dewald Brevis edge one behind.

The Proteas were 46-4 at the end of the Power Play, but captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs steadied the ship somewhat, taking them to 97 before Stubbs was a touch too creative and got himself bowled.

Sensing the game slipping away, Markram began to tee off and managed a pretty 49 off 38 before picking out the man on the boundary in the 18th over.

Lungi Ngidi wafted the willow to grab a valuable 13 runs at the back end, taking the total 164-8.

In pursuit, Travis Head and Matthew Short put on 32 before Head miscued a Lizaad Williams length-ball to mid-off. Marsh joined Short at the crease and the pair put on a sparkling 50 of the next 26 balls to put Australia firmly in the driver's seat.

At 94-1, there was half a chance to scoop Marsh out in the deep, but a Bavuma couldn™t get it diving forward. Short powered past 50 and eventually chipped one to cover off Tabraiz Shamsi for a well-played 66 of just 30 balls.

Marsh then put the inaccurate Proteas attack to the sword, closing out the innings in quick time.