Tickets please! South Africa's new ODI hero

A fortnight ago he couldn't even get tickets to the hugely popular Johannesburg event, but when match day came around, unheralded South Africa 'keeper Heinrich Klaasen found himself the unlikely hero.

It's the story behind the story of the Proteas' match-winner from the fourth ODI against India, played on Pink Day at the Wanderers, a sold-out event that Klaasen's girlfriend had requested he get them tickets to a couple of weeks prior.

Instead of watching on, the 26-year-old was in the middle, putting together a composed finishing knock to steer South Africa to their first win of the six-match series.

Set a revised 202 from 28 overs in the rain-affected fixture, South Africa stalled at 4-102 in the 17th, at which point it looked almost certain Virat Kohli's side would take an unassailable 4-0 lead in the series.

But that was to discount the presence of Klaasen, alongside the more experienced David Miller (39 off 28) and big-hitting allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo (23no off 5).

Having debuted with an innings of just six in Cape Town three days earlier following an injury to regular gloveman Quinton de Kock, Klaasen found his feet in pink, hammering 43no from 27 balls to see his side home with 15 balls to spare – their final 105 runs coming from 52 balls.

"It was an unbelievable experience, I've always dreamt about playing in the Pink Day and two weeks ago I said to my missy that I can't get tickets for Pink Day," the right-hander said afterward.

"The atmosphere was ballistic and this will be a massive confidence boost to get the first win under the belt, it's really lifted the spirits and our belief.

"We're proud to keep our record clean on this special occasion.

"It's also given me a world of confidence just to get that first good knock out of the way, to settle my nerves.

"It feels better than scoring a hundred, to win a game for your country, especially after being quite disappointed with my debut.

"David (Miller) and I knew we could get 12 an over at the Wanderers because the ball really flies here."

The next match in the series is on Tuesday in Port Elizabeth. 

Qantas tour of South Africa

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match v SA Invitational XI, Sahara Park, Benoni, Feb 22-24

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3