Twitter Reactions: Ashton Agar stars with a hattrick and a 5-wicket haul as Australia thump South Africa by 107 runs

Nearly two years ago, the duo of Steve Smith and David Warner were in the news for all wrong reasons. The ball-tampering saga shook up Australian cricket. Now, as this duo has returned to South Africa to play a T20I series, all the discussions revolved around them once again. However, it was Ashton Agar who grabbed all the limelight picking a hat-trick. Five-wicket hauls are rare in T20I cricket but the southpaw managed to pull it off with ease as he helped Australia register a mammoth 107-run win.

Earlier in the day, Australia was asked to bat first by the hosts. David Warner started off by hitting a four off the first ball. However, Dale Steyn got him off the very next ball. Aaron Finch and Steve Smith were then involved in an 80-run partnership. The skipper was the aggressor with a 27-ball 42 while the latter got 45 from 32.

Towards the end, the Australian batsmen accelerated really well even though none of the batsmen managed to get an individual big score. Ashton Agar also did well with the bat and remained unbeaten on 20 from 9 balls as his team got 196/6 in 20 overs. Dale Steyn and Tabraiz Shamsi picked up two wickets each.

Ashton Agar registers the best bowling figures for Australia in T20Is

The application from South African batsmen in the chase was extremely poor. They kept queuing back to the pavilion one after another. The shot selection was questionable and just three batsmen managed to reach the double figures. Openers Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen were dismissed by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins for 2 and 6 runs respectively. The comeback man Faf du Plessis tried hard but didn’t have much support. He got 24 runs at almost run-a-ball.

Pite van Biljon scored 15 while Kagiso Rabada played some risky cricket to get to 22. South Africa was bowled out for only 89 runs which included 7 extras as well. Ashton Agar finished with figures of 4-0-24-5. He also picked a hat-trick grabbing the wickets of Du Plessis, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dale Steyn. Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins accounted for two wickets each. Twitterati was thrilled with this win and congratulated Australia for this brilliant performance. Also, they showered praises on Ashton Agar for his all-round abilities.

Here is how Twitterati reacted after the game:

De Kock and Bavuma masked how mediocre this team actually is during, the England series. Massive work needs to be done to build a decent side for the T20 WC #SAvAUS

— LB~the~Sixth (@lbshadaya) February 21, 2020

Agar has taken another two in two!

He's unable to complete a second hat-trick of the night, but he finishes with figures of 5️⃣/24 👏👏 #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/nqDmY0cxpH

— ICC (@ICC) February 21, 2020

Australia's T20 attack is just fantastic. High pace of Cummins and Starc (both very different) backed up by the variations of Richardson, top quality wrist spin from Zampa, plus control from Agar (and normally Maxwell). Agar is the weak link and he just took 5-24. #SAvAUS

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) February 21, 2020

#SAvAUS – RESULT:

Australia win the first T20 by 107 runs with Ashton Agar picking up five wickets after a brilliant bowing spell. pic.twitter.com/dKivFqfR9e

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) February 21, 2020

Just caught up with SA v Aus T20 highlights: Starc’s delivery to de Kock! He wasn’t exactly playing straight, but another for Starc’s large library of gems with the new white ball. #SAvAUS

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 22, 2020

#Australia 🇦🇺 : 196/6 (20 ov) #SouthAfrica 🇿🇦 : 89 (14.3 ov)
Australia won by 107 runs
Player of the match : Ashton Agar (Australia)
1stT20I #SAvAUS 🏏 pic.twitter.com/MV2jHYBbLS

— Ishara Isuru 🏏⚽️🏉 (@Ishisuru1) February 22, 2020

How good! #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/0i0MR9JRUx

— Daniel Davini (@davvers605) February 22, 2020

What a Spell.
Congrats to Hat-trick Hero Ashton Agar 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 5/24.#SAvAUS

— JaayShaan(Shankar) (@JaayShaan) February 22, 2020

5 for 24 is alright. Just a few centimetres from 4 from 4. Just a few centimetres from 2 hat tricks in a match. Great bowling Ashton Agar. #SAvAUS

— Donovan (@Dgen717) February 21, 2020

#SAvAUS South Africa were all out for 89 in the 15th over. Faf Du Plessis top scoring with 24. Ashton Agar claimed a hat trick in taking 5/24 (the best T20I figures for an Aussie since Brett Lee), he claimed the wickets of Du Plessis, Phehlukwayo and Steyn for the hat trick.

— Summer Sports Ball (@crowdiegal) February 21, 2020

Smart bowling from Ashton earlier today #SAvAUS #BeInspired https://t.co/5y9bhWyePQ

— Paul Griffiths 🏏 (@PGACricket) February 21, 2020

Ashton Agar summons Warnie at the wicket as the Aussies go whack at the Wanderers

Australia win by 107 runs

🇦🇺6/196 (20)
🇿🇦89 (14.3)https://t.co/E4LqiXgH1b#T20 #Cricket #SAvAUS #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/4wHe4YiqLx

— FlashScore.com.au (@FlashScoreAU) February 21, 2020

Just seen the score from Johannesburg? What on Earth?
SA have folded like a set of bed sheets.#SAvsAUS #Joburg #T20I #SAvAUS #T20

— Duke and Kookaburra (@d_ktalkballs) February 21, 2020