South Africa’s bowlers held their nerve as the hosts bounced back from a record defeat to win the second Twenty20 international against Australia at St George’s Park on Sunday.

Opening batsman David Warner hit an unbeaten 67 for Australia but it wasn’t enough as South Africa defended a modest total of 158 for four to win by 12 runs and level the three-match series.

Australia lost three wickets for eight runs in the last 2.1 overs to finish on 146 for six. It was their first T20 defeat in nine matches going back to November 2018.

Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith got Australia off to a similarly fast start but both teams found scoring increasingly difficult on a slow pitch with low bounce as the ball lost its shine and hardness.

“We realised the new ball is really key with the bat,” said De Kock. “It gets more difficult towards the end so we were trying to capitalise on the powerplay.

Warner and Smith, both on their first tour of South Africa since serving a one-year ban for ball-tampering, kept Australia on target before Smith was caught by a diving Faf du Plessis at mid-on for 29 with the total on 98 in the 13th over.

Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje each took a wicket and bowled tight last overs in a tense finish, with Warner unable to get enough of the strike to get his team across the line.“I thought we were on track for most of the chase but we didn’t get that kick at the end which we needed,” said Australian captain Finch.