Cricket: Australia go 2-1 down against Sth Africa

CAPE TOWN - Australia are losing their grip on world supremacy in one-day cricket after crashing to a 25-run loss in the third game of the series against South Africa in Cape Town.

South Africa hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with game four to be played in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

The series winner will claim the top ranking.

South Africa won the toss and Mitch Johnson's 4-34 couldn't prevent the Proteas scoring 6-289 in front of 19,094 fans.

Australia slumped to 114 for five before Callum Ferguson and James Hopes added 97 for the sixth wicket. Ferguson's 63 from 83 balls was his highest ODI score and his second successive half-century.

Ferguson was spinner Roelof van der Merwe's third victim (3-37), caught at cover in the 45th over.

Johnson was run out for eight, while Hopes hit 63 not out to equal his best ODI score and Brett Geeves was unbeaten on 10, batting with a runner.

The tourists had struggled early with opener Brad Haddin run out for 15 and Ricky Ponting falling to spinner Johan Botha for 20.

Michael Clarke lost patience on 35 and was bowled by Van Der Merwe and Mike Hussey (1) fell lbw in the same over at 4-83.

Hussey appeared angry with South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, 60, who didn't see or hear the batsman edge the ball onto his pads.

David Hussey (20) was caught at long on from the bowling of spinner JP Duminy in the 31st over at 114 for five.

Earlier, Australia's seam bowlers Nathan Bracken (1-58), Brett Geeves (1-67) and James Hopes (0-64) all proved expensive.

South Africa's Jacques Kallis scored a stylish 70, adding 114 for the third wicket with AB De Villiers, who was next man out for 80.

Mark Boucher (28 not out) and Albie Morkel (29) smashed 53 runs in five overs before Morkel was bowled by Johnson in the final over.

With Indian Premier League's Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne looking on approvingly from his team's corporate box, Australia had begun well in the field.

Graeme Smith was first out for South Africa, caught behind off Johnson for eight.

Bracken lured Herschelle Gibbs (26) into a slog to mid-wicket at 2-50.

Kallis fell to Geeves at 3-164 and Johnson removed the dangerous De Villiers in the 41st over but the Proteas scored 94 runs in their final 10 overs.

- AAP