Australia will head to Durban for an ODI decider after South Africa returned to form with a comprehensive 80-run win in yesterday's second one-day international in Port Elizabeth.
Fighting for survival in the three-match campaign, South Africa's under-pressure batsmen responded with four half-centuries between them to post a monster totalof 303-6, the fifth highest at St George's Park.
Australia lost their last wicket on the final ball of their 50 overs to be all out for 223, man-of-the-match Morne Morkel (4-22) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2-32) their chief destroyers.
Captain Michael Clarke said Australia expect to be boosted by the return from injury of Shaun Marsh (shoulder) for Saturday's clash in Durban, while he also believes Shane Watson will be fit to play despite suffering back spasms.
Watson, who had only just returned to the team from two matches out with a hip problem, was forced to leave the field in the 19th over, but did return to bat later.
Clarke was disappointed with his team's effort overall. "[South Africa are] a very good team, plenty of experience and they love playing in their home conditions so we need to be at our best to beat them, there's no doubt about that.
"We weren't tonight and obviously the result didn't go our way," Clarke said.
Australia were given the best possible start when Doug Bollinger (2-64) dismissed Hashim Amla from the first ball of the match, but it wasn't long before the tourists had their backs against the wall.
