Australia win after record run-chase

Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in the sixth one-day international between the two countries after chasing a record total at Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Chasing South Africa's highest ever one-day score of 326 for 3, the Aussies, aided by brilliant knocks from skipper Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehman were home in 49.1 overs, scoring 330 for the loss of seven wickets.

Australia, who had already clinched the series after winning the fifth ODI, thus went up 5-0, with one match tied, and one to go.

Shane Warne scored the winning runs, hitting Makhaya Ntini for four.

Adam Gilchrist led the run-chase, scoring a brisk 52 off only 34 balls, which had eight fours and two sixes.

Earlier, a bludgeoning partnership from Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes helped South Africa to their highest ever one-day total. Their brutal hitting led to an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 131 off 93 balls, with 102 from the final ten overs.

The early work had been done by opener Graeme Smith.

Playing in only his third one-day international, the 20-year-old Smith struck 84 at St George's Park after South Africa won the toss.

Kallis added 80 not out while Rhodes was undefeated on 71 as Australia's bowlers were put to the sword.

Smith and Herschelle Gibbs had got off to a solid start, making 74 for the first wicket before Gibbs was caught and bowled by Neil Harvey on 37, the Australian throwing out his right hand to clutch on to a spectacular effort.

Nicky Boje, again promoted to number three, confidently worked the bowling into the gaps as he reached 47 before he was bowled by the left-arm spin of Darren Lehmann attempting to make room for the cut.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne, whose first over cost 15 runs, return to claim Smith's wicket as he swept loosely and top-edged a routine catch to Lehmann. Smith's knock came off 103 balls and included eight boundaries.

That was the cue for some brutal hitting from Kallis and Rhodes.

Kallis was particularly strong on the drive as his unbeaten 80 came off just 59 balls with three fours and two sixes, one off Warne over extra cover.

Rhodes was his usual bustling self, matching Kallis boundary for boundary towards the close as he reached his 71 from 50 balls which included a six and six fours.

Warne's seven overs cost 58. South Africa's total surpassed the 310 for six made against Australia in Bloemfontein in 1996-97.

Scoreboard | Images

Mail Cricket Editor