Melbourne, January 20:

Phil Jaques made 94, the highest score by an Australian batsman on debut in a limited-overs international, to lead Australia to a 59-run win over South Africa in a tri-series match on Friday.

Less than 24 hours after being called into the side as a replacement for the injured Simon Katich, Jaques opened and anchored Australia’s innings of 245.

Brett Lee then returned career-best figures of 5-22, the first five-wicket total by any bowler under the roof of Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium, as South Africa was dismissed for 186 in 47 overs. Jaques set up the win with an assured innings which lasted 112 balls and was laced with 14 fours.

Lee completed it when he bowled two savage spells, removing Graeme Smith and Andrew Hall in his first, then Boeta Dippenaar, Ashwell Prince and Justin Kemp in his second. Lee’s first five-over spell returned 2-13, his second 3-9 as Australia completed a win with a bonus point. Only lusty hitting by Shaun Pollock, who smashed four sixes in a 31-ball 46, saved South Africa from a more thorough loss.

Jaques managed the Australian innings through 32.5 overs and six partnerships, and was unluckily out six runs from his century.

Replays suggested van der Wath’s cleverly disguised faster ball flicked Jaques’ shoulder rather than his glove or bat and that he was unfortunate not to become the fifth player after Desmond Haynes, Andy Flower, Dennis Amiss and Saleem Elahi to score a century on one-day debut.

Jaques was still the highest by an Australian making his first appearance, eclipsing Keppler Wessels’ unbeaten 79 against New Zealand in 1982.

Jaques shared his highest partnership of 87 for the fourth wicket with Michael Clarke, whose 34 from 44 balls was Australia’s third-highest score.

Four players, two for each side, were named to make their debuts in the match. Van der Wath also made a well-starred, dismissing Jaques and Clarke at a cost of 21 runs in an impressive mid-innings spell. Andrew Hall took 4-35 and Shaun Pollock 2-31. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn had a tough debut and was substituted before the innings was halfway through. He snared the wicket of Andrew Symonds but the over cost 24 runs. For Australia, fast bowler Brett Dorey dismissed Pollock to claim his first international wicket.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA

D Martyn b Pollock 11

P Jaques c Boucher b Wath 94

R Ponting c Smith b Hall 9

A Symonds c Prince b Steyne 7

M Clarke c Boucher b Wath 34

M Hussey c Kruger b Hall 18

B Haddin b Pollock 1

J Hopes c Both b Hall 38

B Lee b Smith 6

B Dorey c Kemp b Hall 2

G McGrath not out 2

Extras: 23 (3lb, 13w, 7nb)

Total: 245 (49.2 overs)

FoW: 1-17, 2-55, 3-85, 4-172, 5-177, 6-181, 7-208, 8-221, 9-238

South Africa bowling: S Pollock 10-2-31-2, S Steyne 5-0-58-1, A Hall 9.2-0-35-4, G Kruger 6-0-35-0, J Botha 10-0-47-0, J Wath 5-0-21-2, G Smith 4-0-15-1

SOUTH AFRICA

G Smith c Haddin b Lee 9

B Dippenaar b Lee 41

A Hall b Lee 1

H Gibbs lbw b Hogg 39

A Prince b Lee 21

M Boucher lbw b Hogg 5

J Kemp b Lee 3

J Wath c Haddin b Hogg 0

S Pollock c Haddin b Dorey 46

J Botha not out 15

G Kruger c Symonds b McGrath 0

Extras: 6 (1b, 2lb, 2w, 1nb)

Total: 186 (47 overs)

FoW: 1-12, 2-16, 3-84, 4-114, 5-119, 6-123, 7-123, 8-124, 9-185

Australia bowling: B Lee 10-1-22-5, G McGrath 9-2-35-1, B Dorey 9-1-51-1, J Hopes 7-1-28-0, B Hogg 10-0-32-3, A Symonds 2-0-15-0