The Australia vs. South Africa 2nd T20I at the TIO Stadium, Darwin, on 12th August 2025, is set to provide fireworks as Mitchell Marsh's group looks to extend their successful T20I winning streak to 10 games and secure yet another series victory. Australia won the first game by 17 runs, defending the lowest ever successful T20I total in history.

Following a frustrating yet competitive Game One, South Africa aims to respond in Game 2 and even the series. Errors such as dropped catches and misfiring in the death overs have cost them the match.

The first T20I in Darwin had everything you want to see in a T20I, with ups and downs. After an explosive start in the first 6, where they were 71/0, the Australian innings fell apart with the home side collapsing to 75/6 after just 8 overs. Tim David produced one of the best innings of his short career, with 83 runs off 52 balls, putting together a 59-run partnership with Ben Dwarshuis to drag Australia out of the gutter to get to 178 all out.

Kwena Maphaka, South Africa's 19-year-old fast bowler, was the best of the bowlers, with 4/20, which was without a doubt the pick of his young career so far. The four dropped catches, the worst perhaps being David on 56, were very costly for the Proteas.

In the chase, South Africa's Ryan Rickelton (71 runs) and Tristan Stubbs (37) were going well early on, but Josh Hazlewood (3/27), Adam Zampa (2 wickets in 2 balls), and Dwarshuis (3/26) closed the door, bowling South Africa out for 174, just 17 runs short.

Australia has been running hot in T20I cricket with another 9 wins on the trot. They want to finish the series off with a bang in Darwin. Possible player of the series Mitchell Marsh has a role for his side again; he continues to be consistent and flexible, from aggression with the bat to tactical changes with the ball.

While they lost, South Africa has plenty of reasons to feel encouraged. Their bowling attack, which is spearheaded by Maphaka and Rabada, looked dangerous, while their middle order has enough firepower to cause some damage.

If one of these two teams wins the toss, the winning team should bat first and make the chasing team put scoreboard pressure on them under lights.

Australia is on an unstoppable run of six wins against South Africa, and with the momentum of a record 9 in a row, the sky is the limit. Expect another high-scoring match, but playing Australia at home and with their caliber is too much for South Africa. Australia should close the series out.

• Prediction: Australia to win and make it 10.