Rilee Rossouw shines as South Africa thrash Australia in Adelaide
The 25-year-old batsman has endured a less than ideal start to his career at the highest level, making four ducks in his first six one-day international appearances for South Africa.
However, Rossouw was able to exhibit his rich potential at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, thumping 78 from just 50 balls to underpin a routine pursuit of 145 in the first of three T20s between the sides.
Australia, who understandably fielded an entirely different XI to the one in Test action against Pakistan as recently as Monday, struggled to build momentum after choosing to bat.
Shane Watson and James Faulkner contributed 47 and 41 not out respectively, but the other home batsmen failed to fire as Kyle Abbott returned 3-21 from four overs.
Rossouw then took centre stage following the first-over dismissal of Reeza Hendricks, one of four players making his international bow together with seamer Kagiso Rabada and Australia's Ben Dunk and Nathan Reardon.
South Africa were 0-1 when Hendricks was caught behind by Dunk off Doug Bollinger (1-22), but Rossouw and Quinton De Kock teamed up to excellent effect in a rapid stand of 129 that took the game beyond the hosts.
Wicketkeeper-batsman De Kock struck 46 from 39 deliveries, but Rossouw was more explosive as he collected seven fours and three sixes before clipping the fit-again Pat Cummins - who claimed 1-21 in his first appearance for Australia in more than two years - to mid-on with just 16 required.
De Kock departed to Cameron Boyce (1-31) in the next over, but that mattered little as JP Duminy (six) and David Miller (nine) completed the chase with an over to spare.
Australia had dashed to 33 without loss from four overs, only to then be undermined by the regular loss of wickets.
The dangerous Watson was the second of Abbott's three scalps, while new boys Dunk and Reardon mustered only six runs between them as South Africa kept a lid on the scoring rate to set up victory.
Melbourne is the venue for Friday's second T20, with the series drawing to a close in Sydney on Sunday.