ESPNcricinfo’s Plays of the Day from the second Twenty20 between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers16-Oct-2011Welcome of the day
The Johannesburg crowd gave former captain Graeme Smith a particularly unpleasant reception when they booed the announcing of his name on the loudspeaker, but it was Wayne Parnell who received an even nastier hello. Making his return to the international team after a difficult year that was dotted with injury, Parnell was introduced in the sixth over. His extra pace was supposed to the factor that would create a threat on the Wanderers pitch and while he had the gas, he started off without control and as his first ball strayed onto Shaun Marsh’s pads to be sent screaming through midwicket for four. Marsh went one better the next delivery and creamed Parnell over cover for six to give him a rude return to the big stage.Catch of the day
Heino Kuhn had a good game, taking three catches and his athletic effort for the second one would have got him noticed by the selectors. Shaun Marsh got an under edge to a Rusty Theron delivery that went swirling and twirling down towards backward point. Kuhn had scurried over, called for it as the third man came in and was under it in time to pouch it comfortably. Footwork of the day
After three, expensive overs, Parnell redeemed himself, but not with his cricketing skills. Mitchell Marsh attempted to hustle a single after an inside edge of his pads dropped at his feet. Parnell was speedy in his follow through, saw the ball in striking distance, aimed for the stumps and scored. His kick broke the wicket and Cameron White, who was the non-striker, was run out.Anticipation of the day
Smith did not take first guard with Doug Bollinger set to open the bowling so Hashim Amla had to deal with the first six balls from the left-armer. Tension rose as the third over approached, with Smith taking guard. The wait before the first delivery of that over seemed longer than the duration of the match itself and when Bollinger bowled it and Smith got an ugly flick to fine leg for one, a breath could be taken. Later that over, Smith redeemed himself to the Johannesburg crowd with a finely placed shot that went for four. The cheers told him he was being forgiven.Assault of the day
All the big talk around 18-year-old Pat Cummins has turned into big action and the teenager has had some of the best in the world rattled with his skill. In his first over, he beat Smith’s outside edge, got him to pop up a leading edge two balls later and made good use of full, wide deliveries. But it was in his second over that he really got going. First, he removed Colin Ingram off the inside edge, and then persisted with an attacking full line, mixing things up with a slower ball bouncer. The next one was quicker and a confused JP Duminy edged to David Hussey at slip. The result was a double-wicket maiden; good enough at the best of times but exceptional in this format.Firework of the day
Theron and Parnell had pulled South Africa from a required run rate of over 12 to less than a run a ball. They struck five fours and three sixes and took the game away from a stunned Australian attack. Fireworks went up up bigger and higher around the field with every blow, but the most explosive came off Theron’s bat. With six needed to win off the last over, he got down on one knee and mowed Hussey over midwicket to send the Wanderers into a frenzy. The 33,000-strong crowd were on their feet with cries off ‘Ole, Ole’ doing the rounds. Victory had finally come to Johannesburg after the last few internationals here ended in defeat.