AUS vs SA Match Prediction 2025 2nd T20I: Match Preview, Pitch Report and Who will win Today’s Match?

AUS vs SA Match Preview

In the 1st T20I of the South Africa tour of Australia 2025 at Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin, Australia won by 17 runs. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. Australia had a shaky start at 30/3 but Tim David played a brilliant counter-attacking innings, scoring 83 off 52 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes, helping Australia post 178 runs. South Africa's Kwena Maphaka took 4 wickets for 20 runs. 

In response, Ryan Rickelton's fighting 71 off 55 wasn't enough as South Africa were restricted to 161/9. Australia's bowling was led by Josh Hazlewood with 3 wickets and Ben Dwarshuis also took 3 wickets. The hosts now lead the series 1-0 with two more matches to go.

AUS vs SA Recent Form

After their win in the first T20I, Australia have grown on their confidence as they maintain a perfect recent form in the last five matches winning all of them. As for South Africa, they have won only one match that was against Zimbabwe in the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series earlier and have lost 4 matches including defeats against New Zealand in the tri-series.

AUS vs SA Head-to-Head in T20Is

There have been a total of 26 head-to-head matches between the two teams and Australia have further extended their lead in the rivalry. After their win in the last match, the Australian team now lead the head-to-head record with 18 wins while South Africa have won only 8 matches so far.

The Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin Pitch Report

The Darwin-based Marrara Cricket Ground is recognized for its batting-friendly environment, especially under dry weather circumstances. This surface provides uniform bounce coupled with a rapid outfield, encouraging entertaining batting. Fast bowlers experience early bounce, spinners come into their own as the pitch wears, and the short boundaries are advantageous for power hitters. Teams usually look to score 180 or more when batting first, and chasing is on if the weather stays clear. The warm, humid tropical weather with some rain can shake things up, but since there's not much dew at night, the pitch stays decent throughout the game.

AUS vs SA Predicted Playing XI

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (C), Lhuan Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Senuran Muthusamy, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

AUS vs SA Key Performers

Australia Top Batter: Cameron Green

The Australian cricket team batsman Cameron Green has been in great form recently. He carried forward his performance from the T20I series vs West Indies and played a cameo of 35 runs off 13 balls in the 1st T20I. He is a power-hitter who has a lot of ease while hitting the ball.

Australia Top Bowler: Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood is the perfect bowler for these sorts of conditions, albeit he is the go to bowler for any conditions. He picked 3 wickets in the first T20I to help Australia to win the match. Hazlewood is renowned for consistency to bowl at a certain line and length. His cutters will be effective in this match once again.

South Africa Top Batter: Aiden Markram

South Africa captain Aiden Markram didn't have a great game having scored only 12 runs off 6 balls. But he is going to have to play an important role in this match. Markram is that kind of player who can play the longer innings that can eventually help his side to victory. He also possesses the ability to accelerate the game when he is set.

South Africa Top Bowler: Kwena Maphaka

Just Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, the conditions favour the South Africa left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka. Maphaka can use his slower variations and cutters to move the ball away from the right-hand batters making it difficult for the hosts. He picked 4 wickets in the first match doing just that.

Australia vs South Africa 2nd T20I Today Match Prediction

The first match was full of action. South Africa bowled exceptionally in the first inning after which it was Tim David special inning. Australia then bowled spectacularly in the 2nd inning. The conditions are still very much unknown to both sides as only one T20I match has been played at the venue. 

Despite their early collapse in the first inning, Australia displayed a great fighting spirit while their bowling line-up was also strong. We are once again backing Australia to win the 2nd T20I in Darwin.