South Africa roared back into contention in the Tri-Series with a 47-run victory over Australia in the third match of the ODI tournament at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday.
Defending a modest 189-9 on another pitch that challenged the patience and technique of all batsmen, the Proteas bowlers were resisted only by opener Aaron Finch's defiant 72 before he was ninth out as the World Cup-holders folded for 142 off 34.2 overs.
The margin of victory also earned South Africa a bonus point and took them top of the table on net run-rate over Australia, leaving hosts West Indies third.
Farhaan Behardien's workmanlike innings of 62 held South Africa's innings together and earned him the man-of-the-match award, but paceman Kagiso Rabada shared the plaudits with a useful late unbeaten 15 and then led the way with the ball with 3-13 off seven probing overs.
He disposed of Usman Khawaja in his opening spell and then returned to account for wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade and tailender Nathan Coulter-Nile in a fine display, with Wayne Parnell providing good support in removing David Warner in his first over before trapping Steve Smith lbw.
Spinners Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso then tightened the stranglehold with two wickets apiece, while left-arm leg spinner Tabraiz Shamsi marked his debut with the wicket of Glenn Maxwell in his first over to ensure there was no escape for the Aussies.
Earlier, Australia's fast bowling pair of Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood proved most effective with two wickets each in restricting the Proteas.
Coulter-Nile, who replaced Mitchell Starc from the opening victory over West Indies two days earlier, made the most of the opportunity with 2-38 from 10 overs.
After Hashim Amla was run out for the third time in ODIs against Australia, Coulter-Nile claimed the vital wickets of AB de Villiers and JP Duminy in consecutive overs to reduce the South Africans to 104-5 midway through the innings, effectively ending any realistic chance they had of posting a formidable total.
Hazlewood was even more economical in conceding 20 runs off 10 metronomic overs, earning an lbw verdict against Quinton de Kock to break the opening partnership with Amla before returning to remove Parnell.
Wickets continued to fall regularly thereafter and it was left to the lower-order players Phangiso and Rabada to assist Behardien in lifting the South Africans closer to the 200-run mark.
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