Ryan Rickelton heroics not enough as Proteas fall short in first T20 against Aussies

The Proteas won the toss and put Australia in to bat on a pitch and at a venue in Darwin that has never hosted a T20 International before so there was no prior data to base the decision on.

There seemed to be a bit going on for both the bat and the ball as the Aussies got off to a blistering start in terms of run-rate but lost wickets at regular intervals to prevent their total from getting completely out of hand.

Kagiso Rabada did the early damage, picking up the wickets of Mitchel Marsh and Travis Head in the opening exchanges before Cameron Green and Tim David started to get a hold of South Africa's bowlers.

Green was dismissed by a clever slower ball from Ngidi after rushing to 35 off just 13 balls for an incredible strike rate of 269, while David batted almost the whole innings before eventually going out in the 20th over after adding a well-played 83 off 52 balls.

Ben Dwarshuis (17) and Nathan Ellis (12) chipped in with a couple of runs down the order and Australia were dismissed on the final ball of the innings for 178.

Kwena Maphaka was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa. He bowled a devastating spell of four overs, conceding just 20 runs while picking up four wickets.

Incidentally, it was the first time in the history between the two nations that South Africa have managed to bowl Australia out in a T20 International.

The Proteas' innings got off to a blistering start with Aiden Markram (12) slapping the ball around the park before chipping one to Green at point off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

Ryan Rickelton was the linchpin of the South African innings, almost carrying his bat before being dismissed in the final over of the innings for a wonderfully played 71 off 55 balls.

He had some decent help in the middle of the order from Tristan Stubbs, who scored 37 off 27 balls. Their partnership seemed to be moving the Proteas into a winning position before Stubbs nicked one behind to Josh Inglis, once again off the bowling of Hazlewood.

After the Stubbs dismissal, South Africa managed to stay in the game thanks to Rickelton but they left themselves needing too much to do at the end, chasing 21 off the final six balls.

It was a mountain too far for Rickelton, who was caught by an outstanding outfield play by Glenn Maxwell on the long-on boundary.

The bottom of the order could only manage another four runs in the final over, handing Australia a 17-run win in the opening match of South Africa's tour Down Under.

Hazlewood (3/27) and the wily Dwarshuis (3/26) were just too good for the South African batters on the day.

READ MORE: Proteas coach welcomes glut of T20I matches to build squad ahead of World Cup