Australian Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch says more care must to be shown to players after nearly being burnt by artificial flame-throwers in the series-opening loss to South Africa.

Finch was shocked when a burst of coloured flames were deployed just as he went to pick up ball from over the Adelaide Oval boundary line.

Finch deliberately stalled collecting the ball, knowing the flames were shot to herald boundaries in Australia’s seven-wicket loss to the Proteas on Wednesday night.

But when the flames initially weren’t fired, he went to pick up the ball.

“I sort of stood off, waiting for them to go off,” he said.

“And when they didn’t (I thought) they must have pulled the pin on them for that time – and then bang.

“It was a shock, I can tell you.

“I’m sure it could be quite dangerous.”

Finch said his ex-Australian T20 teammate David Hussey also suffered a similar scare at Adelaide Oval.

“I think it might have been last year or the year before when Dave Hussey almost got his head blown off,” he said.

“Probably a bit more care has to be taken towards the players and anyone who is nearby.”

The incident came as South Africa effortlessly chased Australia’s 6-144, winning with seven wickets and an over to spare.

Finch said Australia failed to post a competitive total and support Shane Watson, who top-scored with 47 in his first international match since April.

Finch hailed the sparkling performance of Watson, who had been sidelined by ankle and calf injuries.

“He was outstanding,” he said.

“He hit the ball in the middle of the bat, played the way that we know he can play – took the game on.

“And we have seen in this format of the game and in one-day cricket, and Test cricket at times, he is just so dangerous and so damaging.

“It was just unlucky that we didn’t have somebody through that middle part (of the innings) that could go with him and take it to the opposition.”

The Australians and South Africans travel to Melbourne on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s second encounter in the three-match series.