Oz beat NZ to seal T20I series

Cape Town : Australia rode on brilliant performances from the openers as well as spinners to overhaul South Africa in the third and final T20I of the three-match series.

David Warner and Aaron Finch combined for a 120-run opening stand before Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar returned combined figures of 5/26 from seven overs to seal a 97-run victory at the Newlands Cricket Ground on Wednesday evening.

Put in to bat, Warner and Finch got Australia off to a flying start, scoring nine fours and two sixes within the first six overs. By the end of 10 overs, the visitors had scored 114 and both batsmen were still unbeaten having reached their half centuries.

However, within a span of three runs, both Warner (57) and Finch (55) were sent back to the pavilion, thus putting brakes on the scoring rate. Steve Smith then provided Aussies with the finishing touch as he scored 30 off just 15 balls to help the visitors post 193/5.

The Proteas didn't have a good start to their chase as Quinton de Kock was bowled by Mitchell Starc off the third ball of the innings.

Brief Scores: Australia 193/5 (David Warner 57, Aaron Finch 55; Tabraiz Shamsi 1/25); South Africa 96 all out (Rassie van der Dussen 24, Heinrich Klaasen 22; Mitchell Starc 3/22)