Jimmy Maher has left Australian cricket selectors in a no-win situation after another dramatic tie as they try to sort out the best team for Saturday's fourth one-day international against South Africa.

Maher and young Queensland team-mate Nathan Hauritz dragged Australia to its third tie in 14 matches against South Africa during a tense finish in Potchefstroom yesterday, adding a cool 36 runs for the last wicket from 28 balls.

They rescued Australia from a seemingly hopeless cause but the pair could easily find itself back on the reserves bench in Bloemfontein if Shane Warne and Michael Bevan recover from their hamstring injuries.

Maher was replacing Bevan - Australian cricket's best-known miracle worker - but it's hard to imagine Bevan doing any better than Maher's 42 from 32 balls in fading light as Australia reached 9-259 in reply to South Africa's 7-259.

Maher and Hauritz needed 10 runs from the final over bowled by Jacques Kallis and the match ended with Hauritz hitting a single to long-on from the final ball.

Maher had ignited the run chase with a six from dangerous paceman Makhaya Ntini (4-33 from 10 overs) before hitting Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener for boundaries to silence a capacity crowd which was expecting a South African victory.

Maher collected his second consecutive player-of-the-match award from as many games since resuming his one-day international career after a four-year absence with 95 at Centurion Park last Sunday.

But that might not save him when selectors decide who to leave out because fellow batsmen Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn have also performed well in the seven-match series, which Australia leads 2-0.

Maher has said he is fully prepared to sit out because he came to South Africa as part of a 15-man squad, simply delighted with his recall to the international arena after another big domestic season.

The Queensland opener did not expect to bat at No.6 as he faced the unfamiliar scenario of orchestrating a run chase in the dying overs.

"The way I play I look to score a run a ball wherever I bat and the only difference at the top of the order is that you might let a few balls go," Maher said.

"I don't change the way I'm thinking because when I was out there I was thinking a run-a-ball and get bat-on-ball as often as I can and see where we were with five overs to go."

Off-spinner Hauritz faces the same fate as Maher, but selectors will obviously rush Warne straight into the team once he is declared fit.

The 20-year-old Hauritz has been a shining prospect for the Australians in South Africa, making an impression in each of his opening three one-day internationals.

He had arrived with a reputation as a versatile player and he proved that in Potchefstroom with 11 not out from 17 balls despite batting at No.11.

"The No.11 tag which a lot of players around the world have carried does not belong to him - he can play, he's a good batsman," Maher said.

"He's a wonderful striker of the ball and I've seen him hit some big, big sixes and he can rotate the strike.

"It was a great effort under the pressure he was under to hold his composure. He's only 20 and they're good signs. Those sorts of things make cricketers stand out."

© 2002 AAP