Glenn Maxwell delivers as Australia seal T20I series victory against South Africa

Chasing a target of 173, Australia captain Mitch Marsh started well with a quick-fire 54 from 37 deliveries before the hosts collapsed to 122-6.

Corbin Bosch (3-26) and Kagiso Rabada (2-32) were the chief architects of the wickets for the Proteas but Maxwell, batting at number six, farmed the strike successfully towards the end and see his team over the line.

Australia needed 10 runs off the final over, bowled by Lungi Ngidi, and the equation came down to four needed from two deliveries when Maxwell finished the contest with a reverse lap over short third-man.

Earlier, the visitors were restricted to a total of 173-8 in their 20 overs with Dewald Brevis once again top-scoring with 53 from 26 balls that included six 6s.

The Proteas opening pair of skipper Aiden Markram (1) nd Ryan Rickelton (13) failed to fire at the top of the order while Lhuan-dre Pretorius looked good for his 24 but could not convert into a bigger score.

Tristan Stubbs struggled in the latter part of his innings to fall for 25 from 23 balls while Rassie van der Dussen hit an unbeaten 38 from 26 deliveries to take the tourists over the 170-run mark.

The teams will now prepare for a three-match ODI series that starts at the same venue in Cairns on Tuesday.