Australia vs South Africa: Glenn Maxwell leads Australia to victory in third T20 in Cairns

In what was a back-and-forth contest at Cazalys Stadium, the Aussies eventually prevailed with just one ball to spare after nearly handing victory back to the Proteas.

Maxwell arrived at the crease with the hosts in a world of trouble in Cairns.

They were bolstered by a healthy opening partnership between Mitch Marsh and Travis Head.

While Head struggled to find his rhythm, his skipper most certainly did not.

Marsh bashed his way to a half-century inside the opening 10 overs, keeping his side well ahead of the required run rate.

He was ultimately brought unstuck by the Proteas’ young quick Kwena Maphaka.

It proved to be a pivotal moment in the match, as two balls later the 19-year-old had Cam Green caught in almost identical fashion, holing out to a short-pitched delivery.

Tim David looked poised to take control, but he ended up meekly departing for 17, having bunted one straight back to bowler Kagiso Rabada.

But there’s no one who likes the challenge of resurrecting a run chase quite like Glenn Maxwell.

It may not have been as heroic as his match-winning World Cup knock, but the ‘Big Show’ gave an adoring Far North Queensland crowd plenty to cheer for.

Australia nearly handed victory right back to its opposition, as with 10 runs needed with 10 balls left to bowl, the Aussies lost two wickets for no runs to set up a nail-biting final over.

It was of little worry to Maxwell, as he scored the winning runs with one of his trademark switch hits on the penultimate delivery.

The 36-year-old also had his say in the opening stanza, taking a screamer of a catch to dismiss a motoring Dewald Brevis.

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He might not be as limber as a decade ago, but you wouldn’t know it with the way Maxwell moved in the outfield.

The diving catch saw Brevis depart just as the 22-year-old looked destined to go for back-to-back hundreds.

His departure for 53 set up the Aussies to hold South Africa to a manageable target of 173 for victory.