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Cape Town: Debutant Pat Cummins took 3-25 as Australia won with three balls to spare in their opening Twenty20 match against South Africa in Cape Town on Friday morning.
Set a target of 146 after a solid half century from JP Duminy (67), Australia had few troubles chasing down the total, despite losing David Hussey and skipper Cameron White late, with Shane Watson notching a quick-fire half century (52) in the five-wicket victory.
Steve Smith hit the winnings run for Australia - who needed six from Rusty Theron's final over.
Eighteen-year-old Cummins was superb on debut. The New South Welshman collected 3-25 from his four overs, including the crucial wicket of Duminy, and will always remember the second last over of the match.
Cummins finished with a three-wicket over in the 19th, missing out on a hat-trick as he finished with match-best figures and became Australia's second youngest debutant in any format.
After dismissing Duminy, Cummins had David Miller (20) caught at long-off as South Africa fell to 5-133.
Johan Botha clipped Cummins for four on the hat-trick ball but Cummins had the last laugh, dismissing Botha at cover, with White taking the catch.
Watson bowled Robin Peterson in the final over as Australia successfully subdued South Africa with the ball after Duminy's clinical knock had set them up earlier in the innings.
Watson got Australia's run chase going after a lean Champions League tournament with the bat.
The all-rounder's 52, including six fours and two sixes, was aided by White's handy contribution of 28 before he was caught late in the innings.
David Warner was not at his punishing best, failing to trouble the South African attack before he was run out in the opening over with Morne Morkel's pin-point throw.
After back-to-back centuries in the Champions League Warner's fortunes seemed to interchange with those of Watson but Shaun Marsh (25) and Hussey (25) were on hand to steady the ship.
Indeed, Australia were cruising at 3-87 after Marsh was bowled by the spin of Botha before a late scare threatened to derail their innings.
White was caught by Miller off the bowling of Peterson in the 17th over and when Hussey skied a slower ball from Lonwabo Tsotsobe in the second last over, it set up a tense finale.
Debutant wicketkeeper Matthew Wade stepped in for the last over but left it in the capable hands of Smith, whose square-drive on the fifth-last delivery for four was followed by the winning single.
The win was White's second as captain having taken over from Michael Clarke in January.
The second and final T20 will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday before three ODIs.
Brief scores
South Africa 146 for 7 (Duminy 67, Cummins 3-25)
Australia 147 for 5 (Watson 52)
Results Australia beat South Africa by 5 wickets
MOM Shane Watson (Australia)
