South Africa have taken a 1-0 series lead in the opening T20I in Durban overnight.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 9-157, before South Africa chased down the target with four balls remaining and three wickets in hand.
Aaron Finch made an impressive comeback from injury, scoring 40 off just 18 balls at the top of the order, as Auistralia reached 1-69 from the six over power play. He opened the batting with Usman Khawaja, with the Aussies experimenting with Dave Warner at No.3.
Warner (20), Mitch Marsh (35) and Glenn Maxwell (17) were the only other batsmen to score double figures, as Australia lost wickets consistently throughout the second half of the innings.
Australia got off to the perfect start with the ball, with Nathan Coulter-Nile dismissing AB de Villiers with the first ball of the innings. The hosts then slumped to 3-41 and 6-95 as the tourists looked to be on top.
However, David Miller stepped up and helped steer the Proteas to victory, scoring 53 off 35 balls with three fours and three sixes to record a dramatic final over win.
“Once again we won a game we probably shouldn't have won,” South African batsman Du Plessis said after the match.
“But to win games like that makes me very happy. It shows a lot of character.”
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