The Proteas began their T20 International and ODI series against Australia with a 17-run defeat in the first T20I at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Sunday, despite the best efforts of young speedster Kwena Maphaka and wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton.

South Africa had been set a competitive target of 179 after skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to field first.
 

The hosts signalled their attacking intent from the outset, with Mitch Marsh dispatching a Lungi Ngidi outswinger for six off the first ball. George Linde dropped Travis Head in Kagiso Rabada’s opening over, but the batter fell next ball, cutting to Maphaka in the gully for two.

Slow left-armer Linde struck with his first delivery, having Josh Inglis caught by Senuran Muthusamy (2-16). When Marsh skied one in Rabada’s second over, Maphaka held on in the covers to make it 30-3. Australia continued to play aggressively.

Ngidi’s slower ball accounted for Cameron Green, who went for 35 off 13, caught by Rickelton. At 4-71 after the Powerplay, the Proteas had the upper hand.

Maphaka bowled Mitchell Owen for two before Linde took a sharp diving catch in the covers to dismiss Glenn Maxwell for one off Muthusamy. The spinner’s first two overs went for just two runs, helping peg back the scoring.

Tim David, however, kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching his half-century off 30 balls (five sixes). His stand with Ben Dwarshuis frustrated South Africa, until Maphaka returned to have Dwarshuis caught by Markram for 17.

At 7-136 after 15 overs, the Proteas were still in the hunt, but David punished a Tristan Stubbs drop by launching consecutive sixes off Muthusamy. Stubbs later redeemed himself, catching David for 83 off Maphaka’s bowling, before Adam Zampa lofted another Maphaka delivery to Dewald Brevis. The youngster’s figures of 4-20 were the best in the innings as Australia closed on 178.
 

Markram and Rickelton began the chase brightly, with the captain driving Josh Hazlewood through the covers and over midwicket for boundaries. But Markram fell for 12, and Lhuan-dré Pretorius (14) followed soon after. Brevis made just two as South Africa slipped to 3-48 after six overs.

Stubbs joined Rickelton in a 58-run stand that kept the chase alive. At 3-78 after 10 overs, the required rate was manageable, but boundaries dried up. Stubbs found the rope twice off Zampa to lift hopes, only for Hazlewood to dismiss him for 37 and Linde for a duck in quick succession.
 

Corbin Bosch and Muthusamy both fell to Zampa, leaving South Africa struggling at 7-123. Rickelton reached his 50 off 43 balls and struck a six alongside Rabada’s maximum, but with 21 needed from the final over, the task proved too great.

Rickelton’s innings ended on 71 (seven fours, one six) thanks to a superb Maxwell catch over the rope, and Rabada was bowled by Dwarshuis for 10 as the Proteas closed on 161-9.