Big 8 T20 Blast

Last Updated: Sunday 10 June 2018

BIG 8 BLAST 2018 Grand Final...

SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIA

SCORECARD

Latest News

AUSSIES COAST TO VICTORY !

Wednesday 6th June 2018.

Durban Fields was the venue of the inaugural Big 8 International T20 Blast Grand Final with hosts and marginal favourites South Africa playing Australia in what promised to be a hotly contested finale.

However this could not be further from the truth!

After losing the toss and being put into bat, South Africa struggled to 50 for 4 as Mangiso Mosehle (22) (c. Tye, b. Cummins), captain Faf du Plessis (0) (c. Finch, b. Cummins), AB de Villiers (15) (c. Smith, b. Zampa) and Heino Kuhn (9) (c. Paine, b. Faulkner) all fell cheaply.

A brave partnership, led by an attacking David Miller ably supported by Jon Jon Smuts stubborn resistance, moved the score beyond 100 before Miller was caught for 49 (c. Cummins, b. Tye) and South Africa were 115 for 5 with 4.5 overs left. Things weren't looking good but it wasn't going to get any better...

132 for 5 soon became 132 for 7 as Chris Morris (2) (c. Stoinis, b. Maxwell) and Dwaine Pretorius (0) (c. Paine, b. Maxwell) fell to Glenn Maxwell who was now on a hat-trick.

South Africa finally ended the innings on 153 for 7 with Jon Jon Smuts unbeaten on 46* and Andile Phangiso 8*.

This was the lowest score of the tournament beating India's Semi-Final score of 166 for 3 - also against the Australian bowling attack.

Australia's opening pair of Aaron Finch and David Warner put on 110 before the loss of Finch (75) (c. Phangiso, b. Smuts).

Ben Dunk joined Warner as they coasted in first gear sometimes making the South African attack look tame. Just as it looked like they would end the match together, Dunk fell on 24 (lbw Smuts) with Australia just ten runs short and 22 balls remaining.

David Warner (51*) and Glenn Maxwell (4*) wrapped up the game 9 balls later as Australia reached 154 for 2 - winning by 8 wickets. Australia were the 2018 champions!