How often do we get to see David Warner coming out to bat at No.4, instead of his usual opening slot? It seems that Steve Smith has certain plans ahead of the ICC World T20 2016 and pushing Warner down the batting order is definitely a part of it.
Warner came out to bat at No.4 against South Africa during the 2nd T20 of the three-match series and played a thunderous knock of 77 runs from just 40 balls. He was ably assisted by Glenn Maxwell who scored 75 runs from 40 balls.
Warner and Maxwell were involved in a record partnership of 161 runs that helped Australia chase down a mammoth target of 204 runs in the second T20 in Johannesburg, Sunday.
"The fortunate thing for us was that I was in and we had a left-hand, right-hand combination, that's what we try and do when you have a spinner who spins it away from the right-hander," Warner was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
"We've only got myself and Ussie [Usman Khawaja] and when he's in the team he's at the top and I'm in the middle."
"It's a great role for me to play and it was my role to try and take him on today, he bowled a couple of wrong 'uns and I managed to get under them."
"Then he bowled back-of-a-length to us both which was quite hard to hit so we had to decide where we would score and that was to target straight. The conditions didn't suit him as much today."
South Africa posted 204 in their allotted 20 overs, with Faf du Plessis playing a captain's knock of 79 runs from just 41 balls. His innings was decorated with five fours and five sixes. David Miller and Quinton de Kock also added some valuable runs to the team total.
Australia had never ever chased down a target above 160 runs prior to this match. Steve Smith & co. broke that jinx, by completing an outstanding run chase, Sunday.
While chasing, Australia were struggling at 32 for the loss of three wickets and it was then Maxwell and Warner steadied the ship. They got their eye in and then launched an onslaught on the South African bowlers.
However, the victory came only in the last ball of the match, with Australia needing two runs for a win. James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh made sure that their side crosses the line, by holding their nerve.
Watch the full highlights of the match here:
