In a thrilling first T20 match held in Darwin, Tim David led Australia to a 17-run victory over South Africa, scoring a powerful 83 runs off 52 balls, including eight sixes.

Australia batted first and set a target of 178 runs, ultimately being bowled out on the last delivery of their innings.

The Australian innings began poorly, with the team struggling at 30/3 and later at 75/6, losing key players like Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh early.

On the bowling front, Kwena Maphaka stood out for South Africa, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs, despite his team's fielding errors costing them crucial catches.

Australia's bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis, excelled, with Dwarshuis claiming 3 wickets and helping restrict South Africa to 161 runs.

Despite the early setbacks, Cameron Green provided a quick boost with 35 runs off just 13 balls, helping stabilize the innings alongside David.

David entered at a critical moment, forming a quick partnership with Green that yielded 40 runs off 16 balls, which was crucial for Australia.

Australia's batting strategy faced scrutiny due to their early struggles, but David's explosive innings ultimately propelled them to a competitive total.

South Africa's chase saw Ryan Rickelton score a commendable 71 runs, but despite a 72-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, they fell short, finishing at 161 for 9.

This victory marked Australia's sixth consecutive win over South Africa in T20 internationals and their ninth overall, showcasing their strong form.

Following the match, South African captain Aiden Markram acknowledged the need for improvement in both batting and fielding performance.

Notably, Maphaka, at just 19 years old, became the youngest bowler from a full ICC member country to achieve a four-wicket haul in T20 cricket.