Gilchrist guides Australia to series win

Adam Gilchrist scored a superb century to help Australia clinch the one day series against South Africa in Durban on Wednesday.

Gilchrist scored 105 off 104 balls with 12 fours and a six as Australia totalled 271 for two in reply to South Africa's 267 for six to canter to victory by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare.

The result gave Australia, who won the Test series 2-1, a 4-0 lead in the seven-match rubber with two matches to play.

Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden scored almost half of the target between them in an opening stand of 170 off 185 balls, the biggest first wicket partnership by Australia against South Africa.

It was ended in the 31st over when Hayden was bowled off the inside edge by fast bowler Mornantau Hayward for 59. Hayden, the quieter of the opening pair, hit seven fours off the 91 balls he faced.

Gilchrist batted with fine timing and crushing power and scored all around the wicket before, three overs after Hayden's dismissal, he lofted a delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini to fine leg where debutant Jon Kent did well to hold a spiralling catch.

South Africa wasted a chance to dismiss the devastating Gilchrist when he was 11 not out in the fifth over, Jacques Kallis at slip spilling a simple catch off the bowling of fast bowler Shaun Pollock.

Ricky Ponting, who scored an unbeaten 44, and Damien Martyn, who was 47 not out, completed Australia's triumph with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 91.

RHODES HALF-CENTURY

Earlier Jonty Rhodes scored his third consecutive half-century to hold South Africa's innings together. Rhodes blazed 76 off 70 balls with nine fours after the home side lost the toss and were put in to bat.

Mark Boucher scored 41 not out, and shared a sixth-wicket stand of 97 scored off 80 balls with Rhodes.

Openers Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs made a solid start to South Africa's innings, although Gibbs should have been dismissed for 16 but wicketkeeper Gilchrist dropped a simple chance off the bowling of fast bowler Glenn McGrath in the eighth over.

Three overs later, Gibbs attempted a straight drive to an away swinger from fast bowler Jason Gillespie and was caught behind this time for 25.

Smith and Nicky Boje added 42 for the second wicket before Boje was beaten for pace by Brett Lee and sent a leading edge back to the bowler.

South Africa lost Smith, Kallis and Neil McKenzie for 48 runs in the next 10 overs as the innings threatened to implode.

But Rhodes anchored the innings with his inventive batting, and found in Boucher a useful partner. They set about rebuilding the innings, until Rhodes cut a delivery from McGrath to Ponting at backward point in the 49th over.

Leg spinner Shane Warne returned from a hamstring injury to take two for 44, the best Australian figures.

Mail Cricket Editor