South Africa take series,top ODI spot

Australia needed 289 runs for a win but 249 was all they managed before folding up in 49 overs with Michael Hussey 78 and Brad Haddin 63 making futile efforts.

Earlier,Hashim Amla 97 and AB de Villiers 60 steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy 60 not out off 42 balls provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.

Australia faltered early in the chase. The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh 5 and David Warner 22 but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked them with early strikes. Tsotsobe removed Marsh in the second over while Warner ran himself out in the 13th. In between,Tsotsobe sent back Ponting 12 and then Michael Clarke 0 dragged a Morne Morkel delivery onto the stumps as Australia slumped to 53 for four inside 13 overs.

The subsequent 69 runs raised by the Hussey brothers did arrest the slide for a while but Duminy broke the stand by claiming David. Tsotsobe took four wickets for 50 runs in his nine overs.

Earlier,the visitors had their share of early troubles as well. Hilfenhaus removed Herschelle Gibbs 7 and then James Hopes scalped Neil McKenzie 10.

But Amla and de Villiers struck around to take them close. Amlas 117-ball 97 included six fours and a six,while de Villierss 71-ball 60 had four boundaries.