Darwin: Australia secured a record ninth consecutive T20I victory with a 17-run win over South Africa in the first match of the three-game series at Marrara Stadium on Sunday, powered by Tim David’s explosive batting and Josh Hazlewood’s crucial bowling spell.

Asked to bat first, the hosts stumbled to 74/6 in their push for quick runs, but David launched a remarkable counterattack. Mixing strike rotation with his trademark power-hitting, he hammered 83 off 52 balls, laced with eight sixes, including a massive hit that landed on the stadium roof. He also stitched together a 59-run seventh-wicket partnership with Ben Dwarshuis, helping Australia post a competitive 178 in 20 overs.

For South Africa, teenage pacer Kwena Maphaka shone with a career-best 4-20. At 19 years and 124 days, he became the youngest seamer from a full-member nation to claim a four-wicket haul in men’s T20Is.

In response, South Africa looked in control at 120/3 in the 15th over, with Ryan Rickelton anchoring the chase and Tristan Stubbs (37) offering solid support. But Hazlewood turned the match in one over, removing Stubbs and George Linde to swing the momentum. Adam Zampa then struck twice in the very next over to deepen the collapse.

Rickelton fought on, compiling a valiant 71 off 53 balls, leaving South Africa needing 21 runs from the final over. However, his attempt to clear midwicket off the second ball was thwarted by Glenn Maxwell’s brilliant juggling catch on the boundary. Dwarshuis (3-26) then bowled Kagiso Rabada with the last ball to seal the win. Hazlewood finished with 3-27, complementing the effort.

The victory handed Australia a 1-0 lead in the series.

With inputs from IANS