Johannesburg: Australian spinner Ashton Egger made a major achievement in the first T20 match played against South Africa in Johannesburg on Friday. The left-arm spinner Eager completed his hat-trick in the eighth over of the South African innings, dismissing Faf du Plessis, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dale Steyn for three consecutive balls.
With this, Agar became the second bowler to take a hat-trick for Australia in B20 after Brett Lee. Lee did this feat against Bangladesh in 2007 T20 World Cup. Agar also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick against South Africa in T20.
Eger missed a second hat-trick in the same match when he dismissed Piete von Biljon and Lungi Engidi for two consecutive balls, but Tabrez Shamsi survived to become LBW.
Agar took 5 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs, which helped Australia to a convincing victory by 107 runs, after scoring 196 runs, covering South Africa for 89 runs. This is South Africa’s lowest score in T20 and the biggest defeat in terms of runs.
Earlier, Australia played in South Africa for the first time since the 2018 sandpaper scandal, thanks to Steve Smith’s 45 from 32 balls and Aaron Finch’s 42 from 27 balls and an 80-run partnership for the second wicket in 20 overs. Scored 196 runs for 6 wickets.