Faf du Plessis and David Miller’s tag team effort: The South African fielders joined hands to send back the Australian all-rounder.
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During the second T20I of the ongoing Australia’s tour of South Africa in Port Elizabeth, South Africa batsmen in Faf du Plessis and David Miller joined hands to register a splendid fielding effort which saw the end of Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s innings.
It all happened on the penultimate delivery of the 18th over when Marsh’s attempt of playing an aerial shot off South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi saw him mis-timing the ball high in the air.
Du Plessis, who was fielding at long-on, rushed to his left to catch the ball. Despite the 35-year old catch the ball successfully, he had to lob it in the air to prevent the ball from going into the boundary with his momentum.
ALSO WATCH: Steve Smith’s acrobatic boundary fielding effort saves five runs for Australia
Miller, who has started to run towards his eight from long-off, was ready to catch the ball after du Plessis lobbed it. However, the du Plessing lobbing it away from Miller saw the latter put on display a full-length dive to complete a praiseworthy tag team effort.
Coming in to bat at No. 5 in the 16th over, Marsh scored 6 (8) and was among the other Australian batsmen who failed miserably to seal a 159-run target. Even opening batsman David Warner’s (67*) 16th T20I half-century wasn’t enough as Australia were restricted to 146/6 in 20 overs.
Ngidi, who also dismissed Australia captain Aaron Finch (14) and wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey (14), was the pick of the South African bowlers with bowling figures of 4-0-41-3. Having scored 70 (47) with the help of five fours and four sixes after winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa captain Quinton de Kock was declared the Man of the Match.
Faf du Plessis and David Miller’s tag team effort
Game changer #SAvAUS #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/fVO4MqzpAy
— Latest news (@Kulani42270852) February 23, 2020
Australia needed 17 runs in 6 balls of the last over. The pressure mounted with field work like this and important wickets that fell towards the end. #SAvAUS #ProteaFire 158/4 while AUS fell short with 12 runs. Congratulations South Africa!
Lots more committed! Wow! pic.twitter.com/gTKXYsza35— JG (Johan) van Zyl ✍ (@JGvanZyl_ZA) February 23, 2020
How Twitterati reacted:
The catch to change the match! That is incredible from @OfficialCSA! WHAT. A. WIN. T20 cricket at its absolute best! And take that for a catch!! ONE ALL, to the decider at #CapeTown.#AUSvSA #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/lbxHi24Fwf
— Anirudh Sharma (@anisharma565) February 23, 2020
Top bowling from Rabada and Ngidi, and some fantastic catching again by du Plessis in combination with Miller!
The equation is now 20 runs from 12 balls 😬 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/aKrPpEGFhr
— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2020
This is how Australia’s win probability fell during their chase. Warner played just 6 balls in the last 18. #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/sMFj4yvqo2
— ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) February 23, 2020
Thank you @PortElizabeth for coming out. Today was beyond special. You inspire #ProteaFire. 🇿🇦💚💛🏏🔥 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/U7qQAEjsdu
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 23, 2020
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