Australia held their nerves and overcame a fightback from South Africa to win the opening match of the Super 12 round in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. 

Chasing a target of 119 runs, Australia were off to a stuttering start, losing skipper Aaron Finch for a duck before his opening partner David Warner (14) was sent packing by Kagiso Rabada. 

Needing eight runs in the final over, Marcus Stoinis (24 not out) hit Dwaine Pretorius for two vital fours and completed the job with two balls to spare. This was after Australia were reeling at 81 for five in the 16th over.

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Defending a modest target of 119, South Africa got the start they were looking for when Anrich Nortje (2/21) dismissed opposition skipper Aaron Finch for a duck in the innings’ second over.

Finch went for a drive but he could not middle it as the ball took a top edge and flew towards the third man region.

Dropped from his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderebad in the second leg of the league recently, David Warner (14) seemed to have found his form with three boundaries but Kagiso Rabada cut short his promising start when the batter sliced one in the air for Heinrich Klaasen to complete a catch at backward point.

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Mitchell Marsh fell for 11 as South Africa left Australia struggling at 38 for three in the eighth over.

A partnership ensued between Steve Smith (35) and Glenn Maxwell (18) but their 42-run association for the fourth wicket ended when the former was sensationally caught in the deep by a sprinting Aiden Markram.

Smith pulled a short of a length delivery but Markram ran a long way before diving full stretch to his right to stun everyone.

Left-arm chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi then castled Maxwell to put Australia under the pump on a pitch not really conducive for playing expansive strokes.