No flames, but Boyce fires

The maiden

In a Twenty20 international, maiden overs are seen so infrequently that dot balls are often referred to by commentators instead. So it was something to behold when Pat Cummins came on and immediately delivered a maiden, his quick pace and impressive bounce keeping JP Duminy back in his crease and unable to score. It was just the fourth maiden bowled by an Australian in T20 internationals in the past two years, and it made Cummins the Australian record-holder for most maidens in T20 internationals. Cummins has bowled three maidens in his career; the all-time record is five, shared by Sri Lankans Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Kulasekara, and Ireland's Trent Johnston. Wayne Parnell also bowled a maiden later in the game and also moved to three for his career tally.

Not surprisingly in such a low-scoring first innings, South Africa experienced a lengthy drought between boundaries. In the 16th over, Duminy ended it with a thick edge off Sean Abbott that raced away to the third-man boundary. It was South Africa's first four in 56 deliveries.

The legbreaks

When George Bailey quit as Australia's captain this year, he nominated finding a world-class spinner as the main thing required in order to take Australia to the next level as a T20 side. It is especially important given that the next World T20 will be held in India, where the conditions will favour the spinners. So Australia must be impressed by the start legspinner Cameron Boyce has made to his career. After taking 2 for 10 against Pakistan in Dubai last month, he claimed 2 for 15 from his four overs at the MCG. That both of the wickets came from luring right-handers out of their crease and turning the ball past them for stumpings was especially impressive.

After captain Aaron Finch's eyebrows were nearly singed by flame-throwers during the first game in Adelaide, Cricket Australia not surprisingly made the decision to abandon the fiery decorations for the Melbourne match. "We were very concerned by what took place at the Adelaide Oval and as a result we're now reviewing the operating and safety protocols of the flame units," Mike McKenna, CA's executive general manager of operations, said. "Until such time as we're satisfied that there won't be a repeat incident, we will not be using flame units as part of any match presentation." Hard as it is to imagine cricket without "flame units", the players and fans seemed to cope. And at least there will be no flame-grilled Finch on the KFC Twenty20 menu.