17 Oct 2011

Proteas pip Australia in South Africa

7:08 am on 17 October 2011

South Africa staged an incredible late revival to defeat Australia by three wickets in a thrilling Twenty20 cricket international in Johannesburg and level the series at 1-all.

The Proteas looked dead in the water after Graeme Smith and Johan Botha fell, but Wayne Parnell, with 29 runs off 11 balls and Rusty Theron, 30 of 16, had other ideas with some incredible hitting in the final five overs.

Theron brought up the victory with five balls remaining, striking a giant six off David Hussey over square-leg, before turning to the dug out and pumping his fist in celebration.

The Australians appeared destined for a series clean sweep when South Africa slumped to 84 for 7 off 14.4 overs in reply to the tourists' total of 147 for 7.

In the crucial death overs it was Doug Bollinger (1-36), Stephen O'Keefe (1-35) and youngster Pat Cummins (2-26) who took the biggest pounding, as Parnell and Theron brought the near-capacity crowd at The Wanderers to their feet with one six after another.

The first of three one day matches between the two sides is scheduled for Thursday in Centurion.