As South Africa scorched Australia for a series-opening Twenty20 triumph, captain Aaron Finch was almost singed – literally.

The Proteas banked a seven-wicket victory on Wednesday night, cruising to their 145-run target with an over to spare at Adelaide Oval.

The tourists (3-145) reeled in Australia’s middling 6-144, underpinned by Shane Watson’s classy 47 in his first international outing in seven months, to take a one-nil lead in the three-game series.

Finch had more than South African batsmen and loose Australian bowling to worry about.

In the fourth over, the T20 skipper chased a teasing Quenton de Kock drive which beat him over the boundary.

As the skipper went to retrieve the ball, a burst of colourful flames two metres behind the boundary went off – as they had all match to herald a big hit.

Finch understandably cowered, quickly hunched and took a backward step before mouthing an obscenity and picking up the ball.

The incident summed up the match for Finch and his Australians – close to a disaster.

Australia’s batting innings was rescued by Watson, who top-scored in his comeback from ankle and calf injuries, and allrounder James Faulkner (41 not out).

Finch’s close brush with a flamethrower, as captured by Channel Nine.

After the hosts limped to 4-67 after 10 overs with both their debutants – Ben Dunk (two) and Nathan Reardon (four) failing – Watson and Faulkner offered steadying hands.

The pair put on a half-century partnership from 35 balls, with Watson clubbing three sixes and Faulkner getting close to lifting Australia to a competitive total.

But on a true batting deck before 26,370 spectators, South Africa’s supposedly second-stringers cantered past the post.

After quick Doug Bollinger took a third-ball wicket, the Proteas unveiled an axeman, Rilee Rossouw, who chopped down the Australian bowlers.

Rossouw, making his T20 international debut, plundered a half-century from just 32 balls.

The 25-year-old finished with 78 from 50 balls, striking three sixes and seven fours in a match-defining knock.

Rossouw put on 129 runs in 14.3 overs with De Kock, who played second fiddle with a composed 46 from 39 balls to leave Finch plenty to ponder before game two in Melbourne on Friday.

Finch said the Australians simply didn’t score enough runs to defend.

“When you have only got 140, they don’t have to take too many risks,” he said.

The Australian skipper also praised Rossouw’s stellar innings.

“He took it to the bowlers and when you’re chasing a small total, if you do that early it takes so much pressure off the rest of the game.”

South African captain JP Duminy lauded a complete performance from his outfit.

“We did a lot of talking about starting well in this series, especially with a lot of new faces around, there can be a lot of nerves,” he said.

“So it was key for us to start well.”

– AAP

SCOREBOARD

Australia Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
C WHITE c Behardien b Parnell 24 25 21 3 0
A FINCH c Rossouw b McLaren 14 17 11 2 0
S WATSON c Duminy b Abbott 47 55 36 0 3
B DUNK c Duminy b Tahir 2 6 6 0 0
N REARDON c de Kock b Abbott 4 10 8 0 0
J FAULKNER not out 41 44 33 1 1
B CUTTING c Miller b Abbott 6 13 6 0 0
P CUMMINS not out 0 1 0 0 0
Sundries (2lb 3w 1nb) 6
Six wickets for 144
Fall: 33 (Finch), 42 (White), 48 (Dunk), 67 (Reardon), 124 (Watson), 142 (Cutting).
Bowling: K Abbott 4-0-21-3, K Rabada 3-0-27-0, W Parnell 4-0-28-1 (1nb), R McLaren 3-0-27-1, J Duminy 2-0-8-0 (1w), I Tahir 4-0-31-1 (2w).
Batting time: 87 mins. Overs: 20.
South Africa Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
R HENDRICKS c Dunk b Bollinger 0 1 3 0 0
Q DE KOCK c White b Boyce 46 64 39 4 1
R ROSSOUW c Cutting b Cummins 78 60 50 7 3
J DUMINY not out 6 17 12 0 0
D MILLER not out 9 15 10 1 0
Sundries (2lb 4w) 6
Three wickets for 145
Fall: 0 (Hendricks), 129 (Rossouw), 129 (de Kock).
Bowling: D Bollinger 3-0-22-1, P Cummins 4-0-21-1 (2w), K Richardson 3-0-28-0 (1w), S Watson 1-0-13-0, C Boyce 4-0-31-1, J Faulkner 3-0-17-0, B Cutting 1-0-11-0 (1w).
Batting time: 80 mins. Overs: 19.

Umpires: Simon Fry (AUS), John Ward (AUS).

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).

Third Umpire: Mick Martell (AUS).

Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets

Man of the Match: Rilee Rossouw

Series: South Africa lead the 3-match series 1-0