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A late charge from the unlikely pair of Juan Theron and Wayne Parnell allowed the home team to turn the tide on the Australians to clinch the 2nd game of the MAD T20 series and with it level the series 1-1. The Wanderers witnessed a sensational game of T20 Cricket wherein the dead and buried South Africans conjured up a stunning 64 run 8th wicket partnership off just 27 balls thanks to 'Man of the Match' Theron (30*) and Parnell (29*) to steal an unlikely win. The Proteas were precariously placed at 84-7 when Parnell and Theron came together. Cameron White made a couple of blunders with the bowling changes which forced occasional spinner Hussey to bowl the final over. Earlier in the day, Mitchell Marsh clobbered 3 sixes in the last over of the Aussie innings to push them to help them post a challenging 147-8.

Having been beaten comprehensively in the 1st T20 International, the South Africans locked horns with the Australians in the 2nd match at the Wanderers, Johannesburg with the aim of hitting their straps to level the 2 match MAD T20 series. A minor injury to Shane Watson provided the opportunity for young Mitchell Marsh (brother of Shaun) to make his international debut. The home team also made one change with left arm quickie Wayne Parnell replacing spinner Robin Peterson. The spin of the coin went Cameron White's way and the Kangaroos elected to bat first on what looked like a belter of a batting track.

Matthew Wade was promoted to the top of the order to accompany David Warner in front of a jam-packed stadium at the intimidating Bull Ring. Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who had a good outing at Cape Town, exploited the bouncy wicket to ruffle up Warner in the 1st over. A frustrated Warner threw his wicket away to the lanky Morne Morkel in the very next over for an ultra-slow nought. Warner thus completed a disappointing 'pair' in the T20s as Colin Ingram completed a smart catch. Wade then got the stagnant Aussies going with a six over point. However, another over-ambitious swing from the left hander sent a healthy edge to gloveman Kuhn to mark his downfall. The Protean paceman called the shots in the powerplay that left the tourists tottering at 28-2.

Wayne Parnell produced a shabby spell wherein Shaun Marsh made hay by plundering a couple of biggies and fours to revive the batting department. Marsh's six over wide long on was utterly majestic. Soon, Kuhn took another sharp catch to send Marsh back to the pavilion for better than a run-a-ball 26 in the 10th over off Theron.

The South African fielding had increased its intensity by tenfold from the 1st match. Captain Cameron White in an attempt to up the ante scored 10 runs off the last two balls off the same over. The Aussies though played reckless cricket as David Hussey holed out to Miller in the deep for 12 in the following over. Botha dented Australia's dream of a fightback by means of his mean and miserly bowling. Tsotsobe in his final over hood-winked Steve Smith with a slower ball to rub salt on the wounded Aussies. The speed merchant completed his quota with mind boggling figures of 2-11. Australia were 95-5 at the conclusion of the 14th over.

White got accustomed to the pace of the wicket and continued scoring at a brisk clip. Commander White had to bat through the innings to keep Australia in the hunt. But in the 17th over, Parnell sprinted from his follow through to run-out White for 39 showing off a bit of his soccer skills in the process. Theron, who came in for tremendous flak for his performance in the opening game, made light work of O'Keefe. Afterwards, Mitchell Marsh broke the shackles with a mighty maximum over long on in the penultimate over. Parnell's torrid day continued as he conceded 44 in his 4 overs. The last over saw Australia regain the momentum as debutant Mitchell Marsh looted 3 towering sixes before seeing his stumps shattered by a Morkel yorker. Australia posted a challenging 147-8 in 20 overs after a stuttering start.

Hashim Amla, who opened South Africa's account with a bounday, saw his poor captaincy form continue as he was immediately bowled by Doug 'the rug' Bollinger. Pat Cummins also generated some good pace to create panic in the home team's dug out. Just after the tentative Graeme Smith found the fence, Colin Ingram chopped the ball onto the stumps to present Cummins his first wicket of the hot baking day. Three balls later the in-form Duminy was caught at first slip off the fiesty Cummins. The Australian bowlers kick-started their defence in superb fashion as the Proteas mustered only 30 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the first 6 overs.

Smith and Botha knit together a meaningful partnership to steady the rocking ship. Botha was fortunate to be put down by the Warner in the 8th over. However, just when the home team looked like they were out of the woods, the leading edged of Smith's bat found its way back to the bowler Hussey. Smith was streaky during his knock of 24. Mitchell Marsh got a taste of his own medicine when Botha connected one over deep square leg for half-a-dozen. Miller and Botha were lightning quick between the wickets picking up some vital runs. Pattinson though was in the middle of a tidy spell and knocked over Miller for 10.

Steve O'Keefe, who replaced Marsh delivered the killer blow as Botha's reverse sweep found short third man. Huhn followed Botha back in no time as Pattinson capped off an incisive spell of 2-17. South Africa looked dead and buried at 99-7 in 16 overs.

Juan Theron picked up a couple of powerful fours off Bollinger's final over to earn wild roars from the buzzing Bull Ring. Wayne Parnell went beserk to ignite an unlikely late onslaught. White's gamble with O'Keefe came under the scanner as Parnell manufactured 2 sixes and a crunching four that almost took out the umpire in the 18th over. 19 runs from 2 overs was the now increasingly likely equation. The Theron - Parnell partnership raced to 50 in no time to put South Africa in an unexpected commanding position. Cummins, who bowled an amazing 19th over on Thursday lost his cool to give away 13 runs. 6 was to be scored from the 20th over as White tossed the ball over to Hussey ahead of the rookie Marsh. Fittingly the impressive Rusty Theron won the game with 'a down on one knee six' with 5 balls remaining to shock the Australians.

With the T20 honors shared, a fierce 3 match ODI series will be next on the agenda for the two teams. South Africa - Australia contests have always captivated the cricketing fraternity with its thrilling twists and turns and the ODI series which begins on Wednesday at Centurion is likely to be no different.

Teams:

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

South Africa: H.Amla(captain), G.Smith, C.Ingram, J.P.Duminy, D.Miller, J.Botha, W.Parnell, H.Kuhn(keeper), J.Theron, M.Morkel, L.Tsotsobe.

Mini Scorecard:

Australia: 147-8 (20 overs, 7.35 rpo)
C.White 39(32) L.Tsotsobe 2-11
M.Marsh 36(28) J.Theron 2-28

South Africa 148-7 (19.1 overs, 7.72 rpo)
J.Botha 34(28) J.Pattinson 2-17
J.Theron 30*(16) P.Cummins 2-26

South Africa won by 3 wickets to square the MAD T20 series 1-1.

File Photograph Copyright: ICC World T20