Composed Smith guides Australia to series win

Friday, 11 March 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Captain Steve Smith scored a breezy 44 to guide Australia to a six-wicket win over South Africa in the final Twenty20 International on Wednesday and a 2-1 series victory.

After electing to bat, South Africa posted 178 for four in their 20 overs, boosted by a magnificent unbeaten 97 from Hashim Amla.

Australia paced their reply perfectly, however, and profited from a fine opening stand of 76 between Shane Watson (42) and Usman Khawaja (33).

Those two fell in a single Imran Tahir over, but any thoughts South Africa had of clawing their way back into the game evaporated as a composed Smith, whose runs came from just 26 balls, and David Warner (33) added 79 for the third wicket.

Australia reached their target with four deliveries remaining, but never looked like falling short. They head off to India for the World Twenty20 where they open their campaign against New Zealand on 18 March.

Opener Amla proved the anchor for South Africa’s innings as he caressed an unbeaten 97 from 62 balls that included eight fours and four sixes. Quinton de Kock (25 from 13 balls) and David Miller (30 from 16) provided impetus, but the innings slowed when Faf du Plessis and Rilee Roussow, in for the rested AB de Villiers, took 28 balls to score a combined 20 runs.

South Africa take on England in their first match of the World Twenty20, also on 18 March.