The first phase of Australia’s hybrid summer of cricket has ended with a dramatic come-from-behind victory by the home side in the T20 series against South Africa.

The series was not decided until the second last ball, and in Australia’s favour thanks only to a mature innings of 41 not out from Cameron White, who kept his head whiles others were losing theirs.

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Australia’s triumph came despite losing the opening match of the series, and staring down the barrel of defeat in the decider at ANZ Stadium.

Man of the match Cameron White. Photo: Getty

South Africa blasted their way to 0-75 after 8.3 overs with openers Reeza Hendricks (49 off 48) and Quinton de Kock (48 off 27 balls) batting superbly.

De Kock in particular was in murderous touch and a massive score loomed on the horizon.

Pat Cummins, who had to wait until the ninth over for his first bowl, made the breakthrough off his fourth ball after de Kock hit him for a mistimed straight six off the previous ball.

De Kock gloved a short ball down the legside to wicketkeeper Ben Dunk.

Leg spinner Cameron Boyce, who starred with Cummins in Australia’s win in Melbourne on Friday, then had Rilee Rossouw (4) caught at long-on by Sean Abbott.

The Australian resurgence continued with Hendricks dragging a Doug Bollinger short ball on to his stumps and James Faulkner having Farhaan Behardien (1) caught at deep midwicket.

Faulkner then had Proteas skipper JP Duminy caught in the deep by Glenn Maxwell in the 19th over before dismissing David Wiese (0) caught behind off the next ball.

The left-armer finished with 3-28 and was named man of the series.

Glenn Maxwell was full of aggression. Photo: Getty

Paceman Pat Cummins (1-23) and spinner Glenn Maxwell (0-24) were also instrumental in dragging Australia back into the contest.

David Miller (34 not out off 26) was the only visiting batsman to make an impact in the closing overs.

In reply, Australian openers Aaron Finch (33 off 25) and Ben Dunk (14 off 8) put on 40 off 4.4 overs, but were also guilty of getting out just as they looked to be asserting themselves.

Finch had thrashed sixes over long on and long off in Wayne Parnell’s first over, the fourth of the innings, which yielded 15 runs.

The Australian captain was caught at backward square leg off David Wiese (3-21) in the next over.

Dunk, who faced just three balls in the first five overs, hit JP Duminy over long off for six.

The South African captain got his revenge the next ball, taking a sharp return catch.

The home team lost 4-22 to slump to 4-62 in the ninth over, after Nic Maddinson (4) and Shane Watson (5) fell in successive overs.

White (41 not out off 31 balls) and fellow Victorian Glenn Maxwell (23 off 15) then looked to be building a match-winning partnership.

Maxwell looked menacing, producing his favourite reverse swipe and an improbably massive six down the ground, and telling the Channel Nine commentators that he would be in it for the long haul.

Sure enough, soon afterwards he holed out in the deep, leaving the home team needing 46 off the last 43 balls.

James Faulkner (9), Pat Cummins (3), and Sean Abbott (5) perished in the 16th and 18th and 20th overs respectively , and White was almost run out in the final over dashing back to get on strike.

He then scampered through for a single off the second last ball of a series to give Australia victory and earn the man of the match award.

The two nations now meet in a five-match one-day series starting in Perth on Friday.