Watch: Ashton Agar picks hattrick, becomes 2nd Aussie to achieve the feat in T20Is

Australia have started off their tour to South Africa in an emphatic fashion. After punishing poor bowling from the hosts in the first innings, Ashton Agar grabbed all the right voices in his favor.

Ashton Agar becomes 2^nd Aussie to take Hat-trick in T20I

After playing a cameo to push Australia’s total above 190, Ashton Agar was brought into the attack at an ideal time for the left arm spinner. Fast bowlers had already knocked off South African top order in the powerplay. Chasing a huge total, batsmen had to take risks against Agar and pitch was having a bit in it for the bowlers.

Faf du Plessis was the first one to go, he tried to take Agar down with lofted shot over extra cover but didn’t able to hit it where he wanted to. Du Plessis ended up hitting straight to the deep point’s throat. Andile Phehlukwayo was the next one with missing a straight one from Agar and was declared LBW. With Hat-trick on the horizon, Aaron Finch put on aggressive field.

Dale Steyn flashed at a delivery outside off and ended up edging it straight to slip where Finch himself took an one handed screamer to give Agar the much deserved Hat-trick. Ashton Agar became just 2^nd Aussie to achieve the feat in T20I. First one was way back in 2007 world cup with Brett Lee taking it against Bangladesh at Cape Town.

Ashton Agar starred with bat and ball including a stunning hattrick to help Australia to a crushing win over South Africa in Johannesburg. Agar was named player of the match and finished with five wickets in the T20 series opener. https://t.co/TWh1KQycs4 @7Cricket #7ENWS pic.twitter.com/CQVGcYXJxu

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) February 22, 2020

Australia decimates South Africa to go 1-0 up

After being sent in, Australia took the aggressive route early. David Warner went early but Aaron Finch and Steve Smith built an impressive stand to give Australia the platform to launch. Alex Carey and Ashton Agar finished off in style and Australia posted 196 on the board.

Quinton de Kock got an absolute ‘jaffa’ from Mitch Starc in the first over and hosts never recovered from that. Pat Cummins joined the party after that and took out cream of South African top order. Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa squeezed the life out in the middle with 5 and 2 wickets respectively. South Africa were bowled out for 89 and slumped to a record defeat in T20.