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A smart batting display from the Awesome Aussies enabled them to chase down a testing total of 146 to clinch the 1st MAD T20 at Cape Town by 5 wickets. Man of the match, Shane Watson provided the impetus for the Aussie innings with a fabulous fifty laced with 2 sixes and 4 fours. But it was Pat Cummins who tilted the scales in Australia's favour in the penultimate over of the South African innings by picking up 3 crucial wickets. Earlier in the evening, JP Duminy(67) top scored for the Proteas, who eventually made 146-7 in 20 overs. Watson was put down by the usually reliable Graeme Smith on the 8th ball of the Aussie chase, a miss that came back to haunt the home team.

Australia's month-long tour of the Rainbow nation kick-started on Thursday in Cape Town with the first of the two T20s amidst relatively overcast conditions. The South Africans who had clinched six of their previous seven T20 International assignments heading into this game held a distinct edge over the Aussies who were yet to grasp the slam-bang format, having won just 1 of their last 8 matches. The South Africa - Australia series will defintely be an enthralling one, even if lacks the fervour of a Steve Waugh vs Allan Donald battle. All eyes were on 'Guru' Gary Kirsten who was up for his first challenge with the Protean outfit. The Aussies were also under the watchful eye of interim coach - Troy Cooley, who was part of the team which led Australia to a series win on their last visit to the African continent.

Some of the big names missing from the action were Brett Lee, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn. That meant opportunities for the likes of Heino Kuhn and Matthew Wade to don the wicketkeeping gloves for their respecitve sides, while also giving players like Pat Cummins and Steve O'Keefe an opportunity to impress. The spin of the coin went Hashim Amla's way, who decided to bat first on a good batting deck at Newlands, which short boundaries promising runs aplenty.

As a fresh cricket season ushered in the South Africans, little had changed for former captain Graeme Smith. The left-handed opener who had a poor campaign against India's Zaheer Khan at the fag end of last season, fell to another left arm pacer in Doug Bollinger, who introduced the ball to the batsman's stumps via an inside edge. Smith fell for a slow naught. The stand-in skipper Hashim Amla also had a rare failure with a bullet throw from David Warner ending his stay at the crease for 4. Colin Ingram then got going to make the most of a couple of loosners. Jean Paul Duminy also showed he was in fine nick as the Proteas made 35-2 in the powerplay.

The pitch was on the slower side due to which shot-making proved to be cumbersome. The 21-year old James Pattinson's first spell was nothing short of impressive. At the other end though Ingram lofted David Hussey out of the ground in the 9th over, which despite a herculian effort from Warner at long-on, carried all the way.

A well-set Duminy welcomed O'Keefe with another six as the left-handers bailed South Africa out of trouble. But to their dismay, debutant Pattinson broke the partnership by means of a slower-ball that consumed Ingram for better than a run-a-ball 33. Boundaries were elusive as the Aussies piled up the pressure on the rusty Proteas. South Africa were 101-3 in 15 overs as Duminy capitalized on his brisk start to enhance the sagging tempo.

Duminy cantered to his 4th International T20 fifty in the 17th over while Miller flirted with danger to pick up a couple of handy boundaries. The super-talented Duminy expectedly cut loose to plunder fours and sixes as Pattinson's figures were ruined by a final over which cost 19 runs. The very next over, the teenage sensation Pat Cummins plotted a triple blow to dent South Africa's hopes of notching up a fighting total. First Duminy fell for 67 and then Miller threw away his wicket for 20. Johan Botha was Cummins' final victim as a well-camouflaged slower ball did the trick again. Watson gave away 8 runs in the 20th over and South Africa posted a competitive total of 146-7 despite a shaky start.

An earthquake shook the Aussie dug out when the leading run scorer of the recently concluded CLT20, David Warner was run out for a duck, courtesy an electrifying direct hit from Morne Morkel. The usually safe Graeme Smith dropped a sitter in the 2nd over as Shane Watson was granted a life. Watson then cashed in to dispatch Tsotsobe over deep square leg for a biggie the following over. 'The bang on target' Tsotsobe conceded just 18 off his first 3 overs. Watson was going great guns and his gung-ho instincts fetched him 3 imperious fours in the last over of the Powerplay as Australia churned out 51 runs in the first 6 overs for the loss of Warner.

Watson's paddle-sweep 4 off his Rajasthan Royals team mate Botha was laced with delicacy. Botha's partner in crime, Peterson was also not spared as the hard-hitting Watson powered his way to an outstanding half-century off just 34 deliveries. The same over, Marsh orchestrated back to back fours off the left arm spinner to keep the Kangaroos in the forefront. It was Advantage Aussies at that point and they continued scoring at an impressive clip.

In a desperate bid to unsettle the duo, Amla drafted Morkel back into the attack and the lanky pacer responded wonderfully by taking out Watson for an enterprising 52. Instantly, Marsh (25) chopped the ball back on the stumps to offer Botha his first break-through of the evening. The new men, White and Hussey were lightning quick between the wickets to keep the score-board ticking. The pair turned the heat on as a few fours eased the pressure. Australia were 117-3 at the end of the 14th over and cruising to an easy win.

Theron was carted around the park and his shabby bowling was bread and butter for the Men from down under. The South African shoulders dropped as commander Cameron White and Hussey seized control of the game. White holed out to Miller after a straight six down the ground in the 17th over. Sensing an opening, Morne Morkel bowled an amazing 18th over wherein only 4 runs were scored with Hussey surviving a hot chance to Botha. 14 from 2 overs was the new equation. David Hussey, then pulled things back for the visitors with a towering maximum over Tsotsobe's head. At the end of the over, Tsotsobe tasted sweet revenge as a miscue from Hussey provided Duminy a simple catch. Was there to be a twist in the tale?. 6 from 6 was required as Amla tossed the last over up to Rusty Theron. The ice cool Steve Smith finished off the game amidst nail biting tension with 3 balls to spare!

Hashim Amla and his troops wil have to shed their rustiness and lift their game when they go head to head against a young and vibrant Australian line up on Sunday in the 2nd and final T20 international at the Bull Ring, Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Cameron White will have to keep the golden momentum going  to beat the Proteas 2-0 and win the MAD T20 series in style.

Teams:

SA: H.Amla (captain), G.Smith, J.P.Duminy, C.Ingram, H.Kuhn (keeper), M.Morkel, J.Botha, J.Theron, D.Miller, R.Peterson, L.Tsotsobe.

AUS: S.Watson, D.Warner, S.Marsh, D.Hussey, S.Smith, C.White (captain), D.Bollinger, M.Wade (keeper), P.Cummins, J.Pattison, S.O'Keefe.

Mini Scorecard

South Africa: 146-7 (20 overs, 7.30 rpo)
JP.Duminy 67(53) P.Cummins 3-25
C.Ingram 33(28) D.Bollinger 1-23

Australia 147-5 (19.3 overs, 7.53 rpo)
S.Watson 52(39) L.Tsotsobe 1-21
C.White 28(22) M.Morkel 1-24

Australia win by 5 wickets

File Photograph Copyright: ICC World T20