It wasn't pretty, but it was just enough.<\/p>\n
Australia have snuck home with two balls to spare in their T20 World Cup opener, with Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade steering the side home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Chasing a modest target of just 119 for victory after restricting South Africa to 8-118, the top order once again faltered as Aaron Finch, David Warner and Shaun Marsh all departed within the first few overs.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Happy homecoming for rampant Matildas<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> The 'worst thing' Dolphins can do ahead of NRL debut<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n As the cards were handed in half an hour before play, many were wondering if the Aussies would elect to move Smith up to first drop after the team's disappointing warm-up to the tournament.<\/p>\n Former Test captain Ian Chappell was one who had called for Smith to be elevated<\/a>, but instead he was initially named to bat number five – but came in ahead of Glenn Maxwell after two early wickets.<\/p>\n And when Marsh was dismissed for 11 and Australia 3-38, it looked like Smith and Maxwell would steer them safely to victory before two moments of madness, just minutes apart.<\/p>\n The first was more brilliance on the part of Aiden Markram than anything else, sprinting some 20 metres to make a diving catch to send Smith on his way, before one of Maxwell's patented reverse sweeps was an unfortunate air swing, which resulted in a delivery from Tabraiz Shamsi crashing into his middle stump.<\/p>\n But that would be the last wicket Australia would lose, and thankfully, the unloseable chase proved just that.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Wallabies player ratings from win over Japan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Wallabies ride Cooper rollercoaster to victory<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Wade (15* off 10) and Stoinis (24* off 16) came to the crease just three balls apart, and it was the latter who provided the winning runs hitting a two and a four off the first two Dwaine Pretorius deliveries of the final over, before another boundary sealed the deal.<\/p>\n But while questions rightly remain over the make-up of Australia's top order, selections at the other end of the team sheet were vindicated.<\/p>\n The team went with just one spinner for their opening match of the T20 World Cup against South Africa, leaving Ashton Agar out of the side.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScottBaileyAAP\/status\/1451845892772818950<\/a><\/p>\n With only room for four bowlers, Australia elected not to go with both Adam Zampa and Agar in a two spinner combination, and instead leaned on Maxwell to provide the other overs.<\/p>\n It was a move that paid off in spades as Maxwell got the opening wicket of the match, clean bowling Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma with just his third ball.<\/p>\n Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Zampa all snared two wickets apiece while Pat Cummins was the most economical of the quintet, finishing with 1-17 off his four overs.<\/p>\n Australia will play Sri Lanka on Friday morning in their second of five pool matches.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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