Australia showed no mercy to South Africa as they chased down a victory target of 102 with 44 balls to spare and levelled the three-match Twenty20 international series.
Having lost the opening clash earlier in the week, the hosts restricted the Proteas to 101 for seven off 20 overs and then coasted through their chase to secure a seven-wicket win.
Captain Aaron Finch clubbed an unbeaten 44 from just 30 deliveries to do most of the damage, with Ben Dunk and Shane Watson also adding 23 and 30 respectively, as the tourists were drubbed in Melbourne.
It was never going to be much of a contest as Australia tore into their chase, adding 43 before they lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Dunk, promoted to open, departed after a tone-setting contribution.
Watson joined Finch after that and they shared a stand of 49 before the former, who cracked Ryan McLaren for four boundaries in an over, became Wayne Parnell's second victim.
Even though Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a two-ball duck, Finch finished the job to clinch Australia’s fourth-largest T20 victory in terms of balls remaining.
South Africa's innings simply never got going, despite JP Duminy's patient 49, courtesy of a brilliant bowling display from Australia.
They did not recover from a poor start which began when Quinton de Kock edged Doug Bollinger behind second ball.
Rilee Rossouw went in the next over, guiding a leading edge from a slower ball back into the hands of bowler James Faulkner, before Reeza Hendricks’ innings of 18 ended when impressive leg-spinner Cameron Boyce tempted him down the track and Dunk stumped him.
Boyce and Dunk then combined in identical fashion to get rid of Farhaan Behardien and leave South Africa 60 for four.
David Miller remained and as such so did danger, but he was soon gone too, caught by Pat Cummings on the deep-midwicket boundary off Faulkner, who took 3-25.
McLaren was next to return to the pavilion - Cummins and Faulkner swapping roles - and when Duminy was dismissed by Faulkner a run short of 50, the game was up.
The series will now be decided in Sydney on Sunday.