McGrath did not play in Wednesday’s third ODI because of a back strain, but he drew blood in only his second over on Saturday when Gary Kirsten followed a wide on to give Adam Gilchrist a catch at the wicket. Kirsten made 3 and the first wicket had fallen on 7.

South Africa employed a new opening pair for this game, partnering Kirsten with Graeme Smith, and when Kirsten was dismissed they promoted Andrew Hall to number three. Hall, though, proved no more successful than Kirsten, also making only 3 before he slashed at McGrath to give Jimmy Maher the catch at first slip.

At 14 for two South Africa were in deep trouble as they chased Australia’s formidable target. Only once have South Africa made more than 291 batting second – 297 for five against the West Indies in Lahore in 1997/98 – and to make matters worse for the home team, they have to win this match to have any hope of triumphing in this series.

Smith was given a life by Ian Harvey on 27 when the bowler missed a difficult return catch off the leading edge and he made the most of this let off by carrying the attack to Brett Lee, bringing the 50 partnership with successive boundaries off the fast bowler in the 15th over of the innings.

When drinks were taken after 15 overs Smith had moved to 41 off 48 balls with Jacques Kallis on 13.

Ponting’s 129 was his ninth ODI hundred and the first scored on either side in this particular series as Australia posed what was comfortably the highest total made in the four meetings between the two sides in South Africa this season. It was also the second highest total made by Australia against South Africa.

He came to the wicket in the 11th over of the innings and settled in immdiately, taking 63 deliveries for his first 50 and only 42 more for the second 50. In all he faced 126 balls for his runs, hitting 15 fours and a six straight back over Jacques Kallis’s head.

Ponting and Damien Martyn put on 56 for the third wicket before Martyn was bowled by Nicky Boje by one that straightened on him as he tried to sweep. He had made 24 off 32 balls when he left at 143 for three and his departure set up what was to become the most punishing stand of the innings.

Now in harness with Darren Lehman, Ponting proceeded to punish anything that was loose or wide and a good deal that was straight as the 100 partnership was raised off just 78 balls.

When Lehmann was eventually out for 39, bowled by Shaun Pollock behind his legs as he moved across to the off side, the pair had put on 119 off 92 deliveries in a stand that, for the most part, subdued the home crowd.

Lehmann was out in the 46th over at 262 for five and as Australia’s overs began to run out, Ponting finally perished in soft fashion, playing too early at a Kallis full toss to spoon up a catch to Pollock at mid on.

Australia were then 266 for five which became 274 for six when Ian Harvey carved Pollock straight to Graeme Smith on the cover boundary to be caught for 6.

The innings closed with Jimmy Maher not out on 14 and Brett Lee, who hit Kallis over long off for six off the last ball, on 8.

With 20 overs remaining, Australia captain Ricky Ponting had 54 with Damien Marty on 23 and with plenty of batting still to come, Ponting’s decision to bat first had been vindicated.

The second wicket to fall was that of Adam Gilchrist who had played with some circumspection by his standards in making 34 off 58 deliveries. He swung across the line at Roger Telemachus to a ball that kept a shade low and was bowled to give Telemachus his second wicket in the innings.

Gilchrist was out at 87 for two (the Australian devil’s number), but Martyn joined Ponting to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Ponting looked in particularly good form at one point hitting Jacques Kallis’s slower ball back over his head for six and with Martyn knocking the ball around, South Africa were forced to settle for containment.

Ponting reached his 50 off 63 balls when he tucked Shaun Pollock wide of mid on for a three, but Pollock looked unlucky not to have won an lbw decision against Martyn, then 21, later in the 29th over of the innings.

After choosing to bat first, Australia were quickly on the board when Adam Gilchrist took successive boundaries, past point and through midwicket, off the first over of the day from Shaun Pollock, but two maidens in a row from Makhaya Ntini kept things tight at the other end.

The first runs off Ntini, in fact, came after he had bowled 15 dot balls when Hayden lifted him over wide mid on for four.

After his early flurry, Gilchrist found runs hard to come by and it was Hayden who was the more aggressive, particularly against Pollock whose first five overs cost South Africa 28.

The South African captain made way for Telemachus in the 11th over of the innings and the Western Province man struck with his third ball, Hayden pushing at one with his feet planted in the crease to provide Mark Boucher with a catch off the outside edge.

Hayden was out for 17 at 40 for one to bring Ricky Ponting to the crease and the Australian captain was quickly into his stride, producing a spanking straight drive for four off Ntini to signal his intentions.

Ntini was rested after six overs for 22 with Jacques Kallis coming on from the the Willows end and after 15 overs Gilchrist had 23 with Ponting on 17.

South Africa, who have to win this match to keep alive any hope of winning the series, will use a new opening combination for this match with Graeme Smith to partner Gary Kirsten. Herschelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenaar, who opened the batting in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, have both been dropped.

Also out of the South African team is Lance Klusener who has a hamstring strain. Roger Telemachus returns to the side in Klusener’s place.

Australia once again did not consider Shane Warne or Michael Bevan and made two changes to the team that tied Wednesday’s game in Potchefstroom with Glenn McGrath and Ian Harvey coming in to the team for Shane Watson and Andy Bichel.

Teams

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Roger Telemachus.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Ian Harvey, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Hauritz, Glenn McGrath.