KEY POINTS:
South Africa are 1-0 up in the one-day series after producing another brilliant run-chase to beat Australia by three wickets at the MCG last night.
Not content with peeling off big chases to win the Test series, the Proteas posted one-day cricket's third-highest successful pursuit at the MCG thanks to a big stand between Jean-Paul Duminy and Neil McKenzie and Albie Morkel's late hitting.
Needing two runs off the last over to overhaul Australia's 8-271, Proteas captain Johan Botha squeezed out a single to secure a win which looked to have eluded his side.
Duminy (71) and McKenzie (63) posted 123 to put the tourists in command, but the loss of Duminy in the 41st over was a tremor that became an earthquake, as the Proteas lost 4-8 in 17 deliveries.
However, Morkel produced a remarkable display of scorching hitting, and blasted 40 not out from 18 deliveries, including a monstrous six over the sightscreen off Nathan Bracken.
Australia's rally between the 42nd and 44th overs looked to have made the game safe.
But Morkel and captain Botha (12 not out) took 12 runs off Ben Hilfenhaus' 46th over, 13 off Nathan Bracken's 47th and 18 off Hilfenhaus' 48th, which included an edged four and two bad misfields.
The pair scampered through for the winning single as David Hussey misfielded at mid-off. The Proteas pair's final partnership was 51 from 35 balls.
Earlier, Shaun Marsh top scored with 79 in Australia's innings, while Hussey made 52 from 50 balls and skipper Ricky Ponting made 46.
- AAP
