Tim David crunched eight sixes in a sizzling 83 of 52 balls to help Australia beat South Africa with 17 points in their opening Twenty20 Clash in Darwin on Sunday.
After they were submitted, the hosts were all out for the last delivery of their 20 overs in the first match of International Cricket in the Tropical North of Australia for 17 years.
Cameron Green (35 discount 13) was the only other Batsman who went to work, with left-arm fast Kwena Maphaka who dropped 4-20 when South Africa Australia came out in a T20 for the first time.
But David's phenomenal innings were sufficient, with the Proteas limited to 161-9 as an answer. That was despite a fight 71 by Ryan Rickelton, who fell on a spectacular Glenn Maxwell catch on the border.
Josh Hazlewood took 3-27 and Ben Dwarshuis 3-26.
“Great way to start the series,” said skipper Mitchell Marsh after the ninth T20 victory of Australia in a row.
“We want to make sure that boys like David come out and beat the way he did, he was the difference.”
Australia backup of a recent 5-0 series Sweep against the West Indies, Australia gave up his intention early, with Marsh hit a six of the first ball.
But he lost the opening partner Travis Head (two) and Josh Inglis (Golden Duck) in the space of three deliveries and then skied Kagiso Rabada at 13, where Maphaka took a difficult catch before Green and David left.
They set up a Quickfire 40 for the fourth wicket before Green was undone by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi.
Australia was in trouble at 75-6 when Mitch Owen was two for two and Dangerman Maxwell went for one.
But David Groef inside and added with Dwarshuis (17) 59 for the seventh Wicket.
David was dropped by Tristan Stubbs at 56, although Stubbs made up for it by holding the catch that eventually removed the Great Australian after a power pack.
The chase of South Africa started badly with skipper Aiden Markram to Hazlewood in the first, and they had lost three wickets for 48 against the sixth.
Rickelton and Stubbs (37) fought down in a threatening 72-run stand, but Hazlewood again struck two wickets in one over to crush their momentum.
The hope of South Africa was almost over when Adam Zampa corresponded to Hazlewood's performance in the next.
“It came close, but we were pretty far from our best tonight,” said Markram.
The second of the three-game series is in Darwin on Tuesday.
