The chaotic nature of T20I cricket was on full display in Darwin for the first match between Australia and South Africa after Travis Head was dropped then dismissed in two balls.

Head was on 2 off five balls during Kagiso Rabada’s first over when he smoked a cut shot to point.

However, George Linde couldn’t take the catch, which Mark Waugh described as “tough but catchable”.

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“You’ve got to take them,” he said on Fox League.

The next ball though, Head guided a full delivery to Kwena Maphaka at gully.

Kagiso Rabada reacts to a dropped catch before Travis Head is dismissed.  Fox Cricket

The opening batter didn’t walk immediately with conjecture over a bump ball.

A replay showed it hit the lower top edge and didn’t bounce beforehand, with Head sent on his way.

Waugh was “surprised” Head stuck around.

“It was a pretty obvious one,” he said.

The wicket put Australia at 1-15 and the next over Josh Inglis was gone for a golden duck.

Wickets fell steadily with Mitchell Marsh (13), Cameron Green (35), Mitch Owen (2) and Glenn Maxwell (1) all departing to make it 6-75.

Kwena Maphaka celebrates the wicket of Mitchell Owen. Getty

Tim David led a fightback for the Aussies and moved past the half-century mark.

On 56 he was dropped by Tristan Stubbs on the boundary. David then went berserk and hit two massive sixes with one landing on the roof.

The Aussies were eventually bowled out for 178 with David finishing on 83.