DAVID Hussey's superb all-round performance was overshadowed by some late Mark Boucher hitting as South Africa claimed a four-wicket win over Australia in their opening Twenty20 international.
Boucher's unbeaten 36 off 22 balls included two successive fours at the start of the 20th and final over to guide the Proteas to 6-168 at Johannesburg's Wanderers ground.
Sent in to bat by South Africa's Johan Botha, Australia scored 7-166, led by man-of-the-match Hussey's 88 not out from 44 balls.
The Victorian blasted five fours and six sixes, then took 2-21 from his four overs of off-spin.
Debutant Brett Geeves took a wicket with his first ball and another with the first ball of his second over, and they were big scalps too Herschelle Gibbs (19) and ABde Villiers (7).
But the Tasmanian's 2-35 off 3.2 overs included the winning runs from Boucher's blade and Victorian quick Shane Harwood also had a tough time in his second Twenty20 international, conceding 0-48.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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