Australia paceman Pat Cummins cranked up the pressure as South Africa sputtered to a total of 7-101 in Friday night’s Twenty20 clash at the MCG.

Cummins achieved the rarest of rare in cricket’s shortest format when he was introduced into the attack in the eighth over, sending down a maiden.

It was the 21-year-old’s third maiden in international T20 cricket – an Australian record.

Cummins (1-11 from four overs) spearheaded an immense turnaround in form following the side’s seven-wicket loss in Adelaide, leaving them well placed to level the three-game series.

Doug Bollinger, James Faulkner and Cameron Boyce were also among the wickets as the hosts tied down South Africa’s batsmen.

South Africa managed to surpass their lowest ever T20 total of 100 by a whisker.

Captain JP Duminy top-scored with 49 after winning the toss, but he couldn’t form a partnership of substance with anyone.

In the space of two overs, Quinton de Kock and Ri lee Rossouw were both back in the changerooms.

Two days earlier the pair formed a brutal 129-run partnership that powered the Proteas to a comfortable win at Adelaide Oval.

In the space of 13 overs, Australia had four wickets – more than what they managed in Adelaide.

Bollinger and Faulkner removed de Kock and Rossouw respectively, while legspinner Boyce bamboozled Reeza Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien.

Hendricks and Behardien were both stumped, with Boyce boasting figures of 2-15 from his four overs.

Boyce was responsible for Australia’s one lapse in the field, mucking up a run-out opportunity at the bowler’s end when Duminy was on 15.

It was overshadowed by the Proteas’ struggles to find the rope,

There was a stretch of eight overs where they failed to strike a single boundary.

Duminy hit the only six of their innings, but was caught in the deep by Aaron Finch in the 19th over.