<p>Australia's Glenn Maxwell produced an unbeaten half-century in a tense chase to help the hosts edge out South Africa by two wickets in the third and final Twenty20 International and complete a 2-1 series victory in Cairns on Saturday.</p><p>Maxwell's unbeaten 62 off 36 balls helped Australia chase down a 173-run target with one ball to spare in a thrilling decider at the Cazalys Stadium.</p><p>After 18 overs of their innings, it was a run-a-ball target for Australia with Maxwell in the middle.</p>.<p>South African Corbin Bosch (3-26) claimed two wickets in the penultimate over and kept Maxwell away from the strike.</p><p>Needing 10 off the last over from Lungi Ngidi, Maxwell took six from the first four balls before reverse sweeping the bowler for a four to seal Australia's dramatic victory.</p><p>"It was a little bit nerve-wracking," Maxwell said after being adjudged player of the match. "I probably had to do the majority of the striking but, yeah, it was nice to get a couple out of the middle right near the end."</p><p>Earlier, put in to bat, South Africa overcame a top order wobble to post a competitive 172-7 with Dewald Brevis (53) top-scoring for them.</p><p>The tourists were 49-3 inside seven overs but Brevis looked unfazed and hit Aaron Hardie for four sixes in an over, throwing the pacer out of the attack.</p><p>Brevis raced to a 22-ball fifty but Maxwell took a brilliant running catch near the rope to dismiss him off the bowling of Nathan Ellis (3-31).</p>.Maxwell scores fastest World Cup century as Australia set 400 runs target for Netherlands.<p>Tristan Stubbs contributed 25 and Rassie van der Dussen made 38 not out down the order but South Africa still fell short of the 175-mark.</p><p>Skipper Mitchell Marsh (54) led Australia's robust reply, dominating his 66-run opening stand with Travis Head (19).</p><p>Kagiso Rabada floored a return catch from Marsh when the batter was on 26 and Aiden Markram gave a similar reprieve to Head off his own bowling.</p><p>Head could not capitalise on it though and fell to Markram in the same over.</p><p>Bosch bowled Josh Inglis for a first ball duck before South Africa's teenaged left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka dismissed Marsh and Cameron Green (nine) in the same over to turn the match on its head.</p><p>Rabada also produced a two-wicket over, dismissing Tim David and Hardie but Maxwell stayed calm to guide Australia home.</p><p>The three-match one-day international series between the sides begins in Cairns on Tuesday. </p>
<p>Australia's Glenn Maxwell produced an unbeaten half-century in a tense chase to help the hosts edge out South Africa by two wickets in the third and final Twenty20 International and complete a 2-1 series victory in Cairns on Saturday.</p><p>Maxwell's unbeaten 62 off 36 balls helped Australia chase down a 173-run target with one ball to spare in a thrilling decider at the Cazalys Stadium.</p><p>After 18 overs of their innings, it was a run-a-ball target for Australia with Maxwell in the middle.</p>.<p>South African Corbin Bosch (3-26) claimed two wickets in the penultimate over and kept Maxwell away from the strike.</p><p>Needing 10 off the last over from Lungi Ngidi, Maxwell took six from the first four balls before reverse sweeping the bowler for a four to seal Australia's dramatic victory.</p><p>"It was a little bit nerve-wracking," Maxwell said after being adjudged player of the match. "I probably had to do the majority of the striking but, yeah, it was nice to get a couple out of the middle right near the end."</p><p>Earlier, put in to bat, South Africa overcame a top order wobble to post a competitive 172-7 with Dewald Brevis (53) top-scoring for them.</p><p>The tourists were 49-3 inside seven overs but Brevis looked unfazed and hit Aaron Hardie for four sixes in an over, throwing the pacer out of the attack.</p><p>Brevis raced to a 22-ball fifty but Maxwell took a brilliant running catch near the rope to dismiss him off the bowling of Nathan Ellis (3-31).</p>.Maxwell scores fastest World Cup century as Australia set 400 runs target for Netherlands.<p>Tristan Stubbs contributed 25 and Rassie van der Dussen made 38 not out down the order but South Africa still fell short of the 175-mark.</p><p>Skipper Mitchell Marsh (54) led Australia's robust reply, dominating his 66-run opening stand with Travis Head (19).</p><p>Kagiso Rabada floored a return catch from Marsh when the batter was on 26 and Aiden Markram gave a similar reprieve to Head off his own bowling.</p><p>Head could not capitalise on it though and fell to Markram in the same over.</p><p>Bosch bowled Josh Inglis for a first ball duck before South Africa's teenaged left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka dismissed Marsh and Cameron Green (nine) in the same over to turn the match on its head.</p><p>Rabada also produced a two-wicket over, dismissing Tim David and Hardie but Maxwell stayed calm to guide Australia home.</p><p>The three-match one-day international series between the sides begins in Cairns on Tuesday. </p>