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Tim David crunched eight sixes in a blistering 83 from 52 balls in the opening Australia vs South Africa T20I clash of the three-match series to help the hosts in Darwin on Sunday.
After being sent in, Australia were all out for 178 on the final delivery of their 20 overs.
The Australia vs South Africa match also marked the first international cricket game in Darwin in 17 years.
Cameron Green (35 off 13) was the only other batter to get going, with left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka bagging 4-20 as South Africa bowled out Australia for the first time in a T20.
But David’s phenomenal innings proved enough, with the Proteas restricted to 161-9 in reply. That was despite a battling 71 from Ryan Rickelton, who fell to a spectacular Glenn Maxwell catch on the boundary.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets each.
Backing up from a recent 5-0 series sweep against the West Indies, Australia signalled their intent early with Marsh slamming a six off the first ball.
But he lost opening partner Travis Head (two) and Josh Inglis (golden duck) in the space of three deliveries and then skied Kagiso Rabada on 13, with Maphaka taking a tricky catch before Green and David let loose.
They put on a quickfire 40 for the fourth wicket before Green was undone by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi.
Australia were in trouble on 75-6 when Mitchell Owen was out for two and dangerman Glenn Maxwell went for one.
But David dug in and, with Dwarshuis (17), added 59 for the seventh wicket.
David was dropped by Tristan Stubbs on 56, although Stubbs made amends by holding the catch that finally removed the big Australian after a power-packed knock.
South Africa started poorly in the chase, with skipper Aiden Markram out to Hazlewood in the first over, and they had lost three wickets for 48 by the sixth over.
Rickelton and Stubbs (37) knuckled down in a threatening 72-run stand, but Hazlewood struck again with two wickets in an over to shatter their momentum.
South Africa’s hopes were all but over when Adam Zampa matched Hazlewood’s feat in the next over.
The second match of the Australia vs South Africa series will be played in Darwin on Tuesday.
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