The opening T20I between Australia and South Africa kicked off with plenty of early drama, as the South African bowlers seized control in the initial stages. The Australian batting line-up looked in deep trouble, reduced to 88/6 at the halfway mark of their innings. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Tim David walked in. Known for his clean ball-striking, the powerful middle-order batter began dismantling the bowling attack, breathing life into the Australian innings and thrilling the crowd at the Marara Oval in Darwin.
With David’s counterattack gathering pace, his wicket became the top priority for the Proteas. That golden chance arrived in the 16th over when left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy tossed up a well-flighted delivery. David got underneath it but failed to clear the boundary, sending the ball high toward long-on. Standing in position was Tristan Stubbs, a reliable outfielder renowned for his safe hands.
What happened next stunned everyone. Stubbs misjudged the catch and spilled what should have been a regulation take—a “dolly” by cricketing standards. The costly drop allowed David, who was already set, to continue his assault. It was a missed opportunity that would come back to haunt South Africa, as the very next moments proved devastating.
Capitalizing instantly, David unleashed his brute force on the bowling. In the following two deliveries after the drop, he dispatched the ball over the ropes for consecutive sixes, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The sudden swing in momentum added to South Africa’s frustration and made Stubbs’ miss even more significant.
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Fans inside the stadium and those watching from home couldn’t stop buzzing about the incident. Social media lit up with reactions to the sitter being put down and the punishment that followed. What could have been a turning point for the Proteas instead became the spark that fueled Australia’s fightback, with Tim David firmly in the spotlight as the game’s game-changer.