Cameron White scored an unbeaten 41 and steered Australia to a dramatic two-wicket victory over South Africa on the penultimate delivery of the match to clinch their Twenty20 international series 2-1 yesterday.
The hosts needed three runs from the final over to reach the target of 146 and White, despite losing partner Sean Abbott and almost his own wicket to a run-out attempt, held his nerve to deliver with a rushed single.
Australia captain Aaron Finch opted to field first when he won the toss at the Olympic Stadium.
Initially it did not look like an astute move as openers Quinton de Kock (48) and Reeza Hendricks (49) put on 75 runs for the first wicket as the Proteas raced to 84-1 in the first 10 overs.
However, with all-rounder James Faulkner (3-28) to the fore, the Australia bowlers upped their game in the second half of the innings and restricted South Africa to what looked like a below par 145-6.
Finch led from the front and started the run chase at a canter, firing 33 off 25 balls before pulling a Marchant de Lange delivery straight to David Wiese at backward square-leg.
Ben Dunk (14), Nic Maddinson (4) and Shane Watson (5) followed quickly and the hosts were off the pace on 76-4 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Glenn Maxwell upped the scoring rate in a 15-ball cameo for 23 runs before a big heave to deep midwicket was caught by Hendricks.
However, White soon picked up the pace and held down one end to steer Australia to victory.
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