Australia beat South Africa by 5 runs, level series

A new look Australian bowling attack stifled South Africa's in-form batsmen as the hosts eked out a thrilling five-run win in the second ODI to level the five-match cricket series 1-1 here on Sunday    

Put into bat, Australia at one stage looked certain to reach the 300-mark before the South African bowlers bounced back to restrict them to a moderate 249 for nine with Shaun Marsh (78) and Ricky Ponting (64) shinning with the bat.    

In reply, South Africa got handy contributions from Jacques Kallis (72), AB de Villiers (44), Mark Boucher (37 not out) and JP Duminy (35) but still fell six runs short of the victory target and finished 244 for six in the humdinger.

Needing 17 from the final over off Ben Hilfenhaus, Mark Boucher hit the bowler for a six but in the subsequent deliveries, boundaries were not easy to come by. Requiring a six off the last ball, Boucher could only manage a single as Australia levelled the series.

Marsh' fifth fifty in 10 games earned him the Man of the Match award.

The third match of the series is scheduled in Sydney on January 23.

Put into bat, Australia were in for an early jolt as David Warner's (5) ODI debut proved a damp squib with Dale Steyn removing the exciting batsman caught behind in the fifth over.

Marsh and Ponting were in no hurry as they gauged the situation well and after 15 overs, Australia were going steady at 66 for one when they stepped on gas.