Tailenders Wayne Parnell and Rusty Theron fashioned a fantastic three-wicket victory for South Africa in the second Twenty20 international against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
The Proteas looked completely out of the game after Graeme Smith and Johan Botha fell, but Wayne Parnell (29 runs off 11 balls) and Rusty Theron (30 off 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 7-84 off 14.4 overs in reply to the tourists' total of 7-147.
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.
Cummins opened the bowling and dismissed Colin Ingram and JP Duminy as he took two for three in a two-over burst. James Pattinson, 21, kept the pressure on, taking two for 17 in four overs.
Cummins bowled the 19th over and conceded 13 runs, including two wides.
Earlier, debutant Mitchell Marsh lifted Australia from a precarious position with the bat and it looked until the very end that Australia's bowlers were doing enough to defend what was an intriguing total.
He had no time to settle into international cricket after Australia won the toss and quickly lost star opener David Warner for a consecutive duck.
Captain Cameron White (39 off 26) was important while Marsh's older brother Shaun was also in good touch before being caught off the bowling of Rusty Theron for 26 from 23.
The Marshes became the first brothers since Mike and Dave Hussey to play T20 cricket for Australia.
