Australia, thrashed by 196 runs two days ago, bounced back to beat South Africa by 24 runs in the third one-day international on Sunday.
Australia made 254 for six and then bowled out South Africa for 230, Brett Lee finishing with four for 48. South Africa lead the five-match series 2-1. The next game is on Friday in Durban.
South Africa slumped to 69 for five before AB de Villiers, with a career-best 68, and Shaun Pollock (69) added 119 in 22 overs and brought the home side back into contention.
But a sensational boundary catch by Brad Hogg, leaping one-handed above his head, dismissed de Villiers off the useful left-arm spin of Michael Clarke.
Shane Watson bowled Pollock to end his dazzling 74-ball innings and South Africa were out of the hunt despite a late flourish from Roger Telemachus who struck three mighty sixes in his 29 off 13 balls.
Earlier, skipper Ricky Ponting returned to action for Australia after recovering from an abdominal strain, top-scoring with 62.
Damien Martyn hit 51 off 69 balls to see Australia through to the last five overs after Ponting was fooled by the length of a Pollock delivery and skied a pull to long-on.
"It's good to get back into the side, it's been a frustrating week sitting and watching the first two games," Ponting told reporters.
Paceman Lee said: "It was one we needed to win and it was a great team effort. The boys put the runs on the board and that gave us something to bowl at."
South African captain Graeme Smith said: "We just needed one decent partnership in our top five today and 255 would definitely have been a gettable total."
Scorecard:
Australia Innings
A. Gilchrist c Boucher b Pollock 25
S. Katich run out 49
R. Ponting c Peterson b Pollock 62
D. Martyn c Telemachus b Ntini 51
M. Clarke run out 24
M. Hussey c Gibbs b Hall 22
B. Lee not out 6
S. Watson not out 4
Extras (lb-2 nb-3 w-6) 11
Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-36 2-99 3-173 4-214 5-243 6-244
Did not bat: B. Hogg, N. Bracken, S. Clark
Bowling
S. Pollock 10 - 1 - 45 - 2
M. Ntini 9 - 0 - 56 - 1
R. Telemachus 8 - 0 - 59 - 0 (nb-3 w-4)
A. Hall 9 - 1 - 38 - 1
R. Peterson 10 - 1 - 39 - 0 (w-1)
G. Smith 4 - 0 - 15 - 0 (w-1)
South Africa Innings
G. Smith c Gilchrist b Lee 10
B. Dippenaar lbw b Watson 16
H. Gibbs run out 16
A. de Villiers c Hogg b Clarke 68
M. Boucher c Gilchrist b Lee 5
J. Kemp c Bracken b Clark 0
S. Pollock b Watson 69
A. Hall c Gilchrist b Lee 5
R. Peterson c Gilchrist b Lee 3
R. Telemachus lbw b Bracken 29
M. Ntini not out 1
Extras (lb-3 nb-3 w-2) 8
Total (all out, 47.2 overs) 230
Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-43 3-60 4-68 5-69 6-188 7-192 8-197 9-199 10-230
Bowling
B. Lee 9 - 2 - 48 - 4 (nb-3)
N. Bracken 8.2 - 1 - 40 - 1 (w-2)
S. Clark 9 - 0 - 32 - 1
S. Watson 10 - 0 - 49 - 2
M. Clarke 9 - 0 - 46 - 1
B. Hogg 2 - 0 - 12 - 0
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