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Magic Miller sees SA home in thriller

Finch's spectacular return and some NCN magic not enough for Australia in Durban

The match in a tweet: It's Miller time! Ice cold David Miller produces career-best knock to chase down Australia's 9-157 with four balls to spare and three wickets in hand to go 1-0 up

The hero

Miller produced the best innings of his T20I career to guide South Africa home in a see-sawing match where both sides had the momentum but couldn't keep it. His knock started terribly, running out his captain Faf du Plessis for 40 to reduce the Proteas to 5-72 in the 10th over, and then was involved in the mix-up that saw David Wiese run out for 13 three overs later. But from there, he never looked back, crashing three sixes in a wonderful 53no, including one that sailed out of the ground square of the wicket.

The consolation effort

After a suffering a collapse of 5-35, Mitchell Marsh stood tall, rallied, and corralled a competitive score with the help of a Australia's tailenders. Surviving the spin assault from Imran Tahir, Marsh savaged the speedsters when they returned to round out the innings. The Perth Scorchers allrounder collected sixes off Chris Morris and Kyle Abbott – one injuring a young spectator in the crowd, in a powerful display of range hitting. His 35 from 25 balls was crucial, and so was his dismissal of hard-hitting left-hander Rilee Rossouw for 19. Marsh conceded only 17 runs from his three overs, once again proving his all-round worth.

WATCH: Marsh six hits young cricket fan

The turning point

Needing 45 off 30 balls, Miller took the long handle to fast bowler Andrew Tye, clocking two huge sixes in an over that would go for 16 runs and turn the tide the hosts' way.

The support cast

Australia wanted to play on a subcontinent-style wicket – they got it. Australia wanted to play against elite spin – they got that too. But sometimes you have to be careful with what you wish for, for when you combine the two a spinner the quality of Tahir can be deadly. The wily leggie was on song on Friday, generating spin, deploying his variations with precision and celebrating his three wickets in his exuberant fashion. While Aaron Finch's dismissal might have been a touch lucky, there was no fortune involved in his dismissal of Peter Nevill, trapped lbw with a quicker ball, or the wrong 'un that bowled John Hastings.

The return

Finch announced his return to international cricket with a bang, blasting 40 from 18 balls opening the innings. It took only two balls to get back into rhythm, lifting Kagiso Rabada with that trademark high elbow over mid-on's head for four. Finch then really found his groove against the gentle part-time off-spin of JP Duminy, muscling three consecutive sixes over cow corner (a deeper analysis can be found below). Disbelief washed over his face when he picked out Kagiso Rabada in the deep off a Tahir full toss, but the knock will fill the Victorian with confidence and remind the selectors why he's the No.1 T20 batsman in the world.

WATCH: Finch quickly into his stride

The hat-trick (of sixes)

Here's a scientific breakdown of Finch's three colossal sixes in the fifth over.

4.1 – Duminy to Finch. On one knee, Finch puts everything behind a slog sweep to send the ball over cow corner five rows back.

4.2 – Duminy to Finch. Shorter and flatter, Finch puts everything behind a hefty heave to send the ball over cow corner 10 rows back.

4.3 – Duminy to Finch. A juicy full toss, Finch literally puts everything behind a massive swipe to send the ball over cow corner 20 rows back.

The delivery

Steve Smith said Australia needed to get AB de Villiers early, and that his side had some plans in place to make it happen. If the plan was to nick him off with an outswinger first ball, it worked! Charging in from the Umgeni End, Nathan Coulter-Nile delivered the decisive delivery – back of a length, curly away and inviting De Villiers to poke it down to third man for one. High risk for low reward.

WATCH: NCN removes de Villiers for a golden duck

The debuts

Nevill bettered his second-ball dismissal with the gloves in his Test debut with a grab, off De Villiers, with his first in T20I cricket. He failed to make an impact with the bat, but made no mistake behind the stumps – his primary objective.

Adam Zampa was tidy, going 0-26 from his four overs. He was handed the penultimate over by captain Smith, and with only 10 needed, conceded just five runs to keep Australia in the fight.

The stat

Not only was it De Villiers' maiden first-ball duck in T20 cricket for South Africa, it was just his second golden globe in his international career. That's two in 431 innings for the Proteas. The other was against New Zealand in a Test in 2012.

The wash-up

Both sides head to Johannesburg for the second match at the Wanderers on Sunday. Shane Watson will return, with both sides expected to make significant changes to allow each squad member a hit.