• Home
  • Player Stories
  • When Travis Head Storm Blew South Africa Away And Secured A One Sided T20i Win For Australia

When Travis Head Storm Blew South Africa Away And Secured A One-Sided T20I Win For Australia

Jatin

Travis Head took South African bowlers for a ride [Source: @_mkverma/x.com]Travis Head took South African bowlers for a ride [Source: @_mkverma/x.com]

Australia and South Africa are locking horns in a three-match T20I series Down Under. The Aussies drew first blood in the opener, defending 178 to win by 17 runs.

While the hosts celebrated the win, opener Travis Head had a rare off day, managing just two off seven before walking back. Now, as the 2nd T20I looms, Head will be itching to bounce back in style.

And if the Proteas need a reminder of what he is capable of, they only need to rewind to September 2023 in Durban when Travis Head unleashed one of the most brutal T20I knocks ever seen against them, smashing 91 off just 48 balls to wrap up a 3-0 series sweep.

Proteas Post A Competitive Total

That game was the third and final T20I of the series, with Australia already having clinched the trophy. Batting first, South Africa piled on 190/8. Reeza Hendricks struck 42 off 30, skipper Aiden Markram added a quick-fire 41 off 23, and Donovan Ferreira went ballistic with 48 off 21 balls. Sean Abbott was the pick of the Aussie bowlers, bagging 4 for 31 to keep the target within range.

Head Takes Charge From The Get-Go

Chasing 191, Australia lost Matthew Short to the first ball of the innings. But Travis Head wasn’t in the mood to hang around. He came out swinging, treating every ball like a personal challenge. Boundaries came thick and fast, and he brought up his fifty in just 24 balls, bludgeoning five fours and four sixes in that period.

South Africa’s bowlers had no answer as short balls disappeared into the stands, full balls were driven with venom and anything in between was cut away with disdain.

Inglis And Stoinis Join The Party

Josh Inglis chipped in with a quickfire 42 off 22 balls, matching Head’s tempo in the middle overs. By the time Marcus Stoinis walked in, the game was already slipping away from the hosts. Stoinis stayed unbeaten on 37 off 21 and ensured that the chase never lost momentum.

Head finally holed out to Temba Bavuma at long-off for 91 off 48 balls (8 fours and six sixes), caught off Bjorn Fortuin, but by then the chase was a mere formality. Australia sealed the win in 17.5 overs, claiming a five-wicket victory and a clean sweep. Head walked away with Player of the Match honours while Mitchell Marsh bagged Player of the Series for his 186 runs across three matches.

Meanwhile, in the current AUS vs SA T20I series, South Africa will be well aware that if Head finds that same rhythm, it could be deja vu all over again.