South Africa 259 for 7 (Rhodes 83, Kallis 71, Lee 4-45) tied with Australia 259 for 9 (Hayden 78, Ntini 4-33)
scorecard

Jimmy Maher and last man Nathan Hauritz snatched a tie for Australia with an unbeaten last-wicket stand of 36 in the third one-day international at North West Stadium today.

South Africa, needing a win after losing the first two matches of the seven-game series, seemed set for a comfortable victory when Australia lost their ninth wicket in the 46th over. Australia had lost six wickets for 45, and needed 37 to win off 28 balls.

The first glimmer of hope came when Maher slammed a six off the last ball of the 47th over. It was also the last delivery from Makhaya Ntini, South Africa's best bowler on the day, who finished with 4 for 33. Using his feet to all the bowlers, Maher hit further boundaries off Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock, South Africa's captain.

Ten were needed off the last over, bowled by Jacques Kallis. The first delivery was no-balled because it was a high full-toss. It was also hit for two by Maher. Singles off the remaining five balls, with Pollock surprisingly not electing to bring his field up to stop the ones, meant that the two sides had tied for the third time in 14 matches in less than three years.

Pollock admitted, "We should have closed them out."

But Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain, said he was always confident his team had a chance because they never allowed the required run rate to get too high. "Jimmy Maher is a very good player," he said. "He proved today he could bat anywhere in the order."

The result made Australia firm favourites to win the series, as star players Michael Bevan, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are likely to be available for the remaining four matches after being out of action because of various injuries. McGrath was a late withdrawal this morning because of a sore back, but his replacement, Brett Lee, took 4 for 45, dismissing South Africa's opening pair of Boeta Dippenaar and Herschelle Gibbs (Gary Kirsten was omitted) in a fiery opening spell, before taking two more wickets in the closing overs.

Jonty Rhodes hit 83 off 74 balls as South Africa finished with 259 for 7 on a good pitch at a ground which has a reputation for high scoring.

Australia also lost early wickets, but a quickfire fourth-wicket stand of 66 from 60 balls between Matthew Hayden and Darren Lehmann put them on target for a third successive win.

But a turning-point came when Lehmann and Hayden were out in the space of five deliveries. Lehmann edged a catch behind off Kallis after hitting 33 off as many balls. The his fellow left-hander Hayden fell in the next over, driving Nicky Boje's left-arm spin straight to cover. Hayden made 78 off 103 balls, with five fours and three sixes.

Then Ntini's pace accounted for Shane Watson, Andy Bichel and Lee as Australia's hopes slumped. But Maher and the inexperienced Hauritz (in only his third ODI) batted calmly and enterprisingly to earn their side a share of the honours.

Teams
South Africa 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Boeta Dippenaar, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Neil McKenzie, 5 Jonty Rhodes, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Lance Klusener, 8 Shaun Pollock (capt), 9 Nicky Boje, 10 Andrew Hall, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Australia 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Jimmy Maher, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Damien Martyn, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Andy Bichel, 10 Jason Gillespie, 11 Nathan Hauritz.

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