Riding on left-arm spinner Ashton Agar’s sensational hat-trick, Australia registered a thumping 107-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday (February 21).

Sent into bat, Australia posted 196/6 in 20 overs on the back of dazzling knocks from Aaron Finch (42 off 27 balls) and Steve Smith (45 off 32 balls). Agar also played a valuable cameo of 9-ball 20*.

In reply, the hosts made a bad start against the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins before Agar's triple strike sent them hurtling to their all-time lowest T20I total of 89.

For his career-best figures of 5 for 24, Agar was adjudged Player-of-the-Match.

“It was really exciting, a highlight of my cricketing life,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony before praising the fast bowling attack of Starc (1/23), Cummins (2/13) and Kane Richardson (0/20).

“It was made easy by Starc, Cummins and Richardson bowling in front of me. Starc, at 150 clicks, induces fear in the opposition. I was feeling horrible at the start of the game. But with a bit of turn off the pitch your job becomes easy.”

Skipper Finch was fairly pleased with this clinical performance from his team.

“The way we set the tone on the field was fantastic. Ashton gets the credit today; the lengths he bowled was fantastic. When you are scoring 200 the start is very important. I would have batted second as well had I won the toss, so a nice toss to lose. I thought the way we attacked the crease and the lengths we bowled was fantastic,” he said.

Port Elizabeth will host the second T20I on Sunday (February 23).