Tim David Smashes Towering Six Onto Stadium Roof In AUS Vs SA T20I Opener

Date: August 10, 2025
Venue: Darwin International Cricket Ground
Format: 1st T20I, 3-match series

The tropical air of Darwin carried an electric charge on Sunday night, as cricket fans packed the stands for the much-anticipated 1st T20I between Australia and South Africa. What they witnessed was a pulsating mix of early collapse, a Herculean rescue act, and one of the most outrageous sixes the game has ever seen.

Australia emerged 17-run victors, but it was Tim David’s monstrous, roof-shattering six—a moment straight out of cricket folklore—that set the night alight. It wasn’t just about the power; it was about timing, context, and the kind of audacity that turns a match.

The Moment That Shook Darwin: Tim David’s Roof-Busting Six

It was the 16th over of the Australian innings. Senuran Muthusamy ambled in, bowling around the wicket to David. The ball was short, straying down leg—a cardinal sin against a man who thrives on short-pitched punishment.

David, reading it early, rocked onto the back foot, unleashed his full upper-body power, and pulled with such ferocity that the ball seemed to be chasing the stars. It sailed clean over deep square leg and landed squarely on the stadium roof, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Even the South African fielders paused to watch it disappear.

That blow wasn’t just about entertainment—it was the exclamation point in an innings of calculated destruction. By then, David was deep into the zone, on his way to 83 off 52 balls, a knock studded with 4 fours and 8 sixes. The crowd’s collective gasp, followed by a roar, ensured the moment will live on in highlight reels for years.

“Pulled onto the roof at deep square—that’s not just a six, that’s a demolition,”
said one commentator, barely containing his amazement.

The Early Collapse: Australia in Trouble at 75/6

The night didn’t begin brightly for the home side. Winning the toss and batting first, Australia’s top order imploded against a sharp South African new-ball assault.

Travis Head: Gone for 5, caught in the deep.
Josh Inglis: 1, nicked behind.
Mitchell Marsh (captain): 0, trapped LBW.

All this before the 4th over had ended.

South Africa’s young sensation Kwena Maphaka was unplayable at times, mixing pace and precision to run through the Aussie lineup. His 4/20 from four overs was a masterclass in left-arm seam bowling under pressure.

Australia found brief relief through Cameron Green, who smashed a 13-ball 35, counterattacking with four boundaries and two sixes. But when Green fell, followed by Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell, the scoreboard read 75/6 after 7.4 overs—a precarious situation that had the South Africans sensing blood.

The Turning Point: David and the Lower Order Rally

It was here that Tim David began his counterattack, not with reckless swings but with calculated aggression.

He found a willing ally in Ben Dwarshuis (17 off 12) and later Nathan Ellis (12 off 8). Their contributions were modest but vital—allowing David to farm the strike and unleash at the right moments.

From 75/6, Australia added 103 runs in the final 12.2 overs—a remarkable recovery considering the early carnage.

The standout moments of David’s innings included:

A straight six off Maphaka that cleared the sight screen.
A reverse-lap four over short third man against Ngidi.
And, of course, the roofbuster in the 16th over.

By the time the innings closed at 178/8, the momentum had shifted decisively.

Australia’s Batting Card (1st T20I)

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Travis Head	5	6	1	0	83.3
Josh Inglis	1	3	0	0	33.3
Mitchell Marsh	0	2	0	0	0.0
Cameron Green	35	13	4	2	269.2
Matthew Wade	7	7	1	0	100.0
Glenn Maxwell	6	5	1	0	120.0
Tim David	83	52	4	8	159.6
Ben Dwarshuis	17	12	1	1	141.7
Nathan Ellis	12	8	0	1	150.0

South Africa’s Reply: A Rocky Start

Chasing 179, South Africa needed a strong, steady start. Instead, they stumbled early.

Aiden Markram: 12 off 10, edged to slip.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: 8 off 7, bowled.
Dewald Brevis: 5 off 4, caught behind.

At 48/3 in the powerplay, the Proteas were behind the rate and down key batters.

Rickelton’s Lone Stand

Ryan Rickelton stood firm, playing the anchor role. His 71 off 55 balls was a study in patience and selective aggression, peppered with 8 fours and 1 six. He found some support in Tristan Stubbs (37 off 27), and together they kept the chase alive until the 15th over.

But the asking rate was climbing, and Australia’s bowlers never let the leash loosen.

Australia’s Bowling Brilliance

Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis were relentless, sharing 6 wickets between them. Hazlewood’s metronomic lines and Dwarshuis’s variations dismantled South Africa’s hopes in the middle overs. Adam Zampa’s two wickets removed any lingering threat from the lower middle order.

By the 19th over, South Africa were 150/8, needing 29 off the last six balls—an impossible task against Australia’s death-bowling unit.

South Africa’s Batting Card (1st T20I)

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Aiden Markram	12	10	2	0	120.0
Lhuan-dre Pretorius	8	7	1	0	114.3
Dewald Brevis	5	4	1	0	125.0
Ryan Rickelton	71	55	8	1	129.1
Tristan Stubbs	37	27	3	2	137.0
Senuran Muthusamy	4	8	0	0	50.0
Marco Jansen	6	6	1	0	100.0
Kwena Maphaka	1	2	0	0	50.0
Lungi Ngidi	0	1	0	0	0.0
Tabraiz Shamsi	4	4	0	0	100.0

Player of the Match: Tim David

No surprises here—David was head and shoulders above everyone else on the night.

Batting: 83 off 52 (4×4, 8×6)
Strike Rate: 159.6
Impact: Rescued Australia from 75/6 to a winning total
Signature Moment: 16th-over six onto the roof

His innings wasn’t just about power—it was about resilience, reading the situation, and pacing the chase perfectly.

Key Turning Points

Green’s Counterattack: At 15/3, Cameron Green’s 13-ball 35 ensured Australia didn’t collapse completely.
David-Dwarshuis Partnership: Stabilized the innings and set the stage for a big finish.
Hazlewood’s Early Strikes: Removed two top-order batters, setting the tone for Australia’s defense.
Zampa’s Double Blow: Broke the Rickelton-Stubbs stand.

Series Context

This win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series. For South Africa, it’s back to the drawing board—particularly in addressing middle-order collapses and death-overs execution.

Post-Match Reactions

Tim David (Player of the Match):

“The ball just kept going… didn’t think it’d end up on the roof! But more importantly, we fought back from a tough spot. Proud of how the lower order contributed.”

Mitchell Marsh (Australia Captain):