Melbourne, January 16:

South Africa edged out Australia by three wickets in the first of their five-game one-day international series in Melbourne here today. Opener Shaun Marsh led the way for the Aussies with 79, adding 94 with Ricky Ponting (46) while David Hussey smashed a rapid 52 as the hosts made 271-8.

South Africa lost early wickets before JP Duminy (71) and Neil McKenzie (63) added 123 for the fourth wicket. But although Australia hit back, Albie Morkel (40 not out from 18 balls) saw them home with three balls to spare. When Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first, Mike Hussey was elevated to open the innings with Marsh but made just six. Ponting’s luck ran out when he edged Botha to keeper Mark Boucher, while Michael Clarke made just 19.

David Hussey and Cameron White cheered the Melbourne crowd with an entertaining stand, while some lusty hitting from Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken helped the Aussies score 48 from the last five overs.

In reply, Proteas opener Hashim Amla edged Shaun Tait onto his stumps in the second over, while Herschelle Gibbs made 22 before another inside edge saw him fall to Ben Hilfenhaus. Jacques Kallis had made 41 from 49 balls when he tried to pull left-arm spinner Clarke to the mid-wicket boundary but looked embarrassed as a quicker delivery knocked over his off stump. But that brought McKenzie and Duminy together for some careful accumulation — Duminy’s 71 did not include a single boundary — and the Proteas were looking comfortable at 213-3, with 59 needed from 55 balls, when Duminy spooned Bracken to White.