PERTH: South Africa has become the number one team in one-day international cricket when they beat the world champions Australia by 39 runs in the final One-day International here at WACA on Friday to take the five-match series 4-1. Chasing 289 to finish the series with a 3-2 loss, Australia were all out for 249 runs in 49 overs and not only lost the series but also their top position in the ICC rankings which they were enjoying for the last several years. Debutant Lonwabo Tsotsobe made the perfect start to his ODI career with two wickets in his first four overs to play a key role in South Africa’s victory. He removed two of the danger men, Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting.No Aussie batsman except Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) could resist against South African bowlers. Michael’s brother David Hussey also made a useful contribution of 32. The Husseys had come together at 4 for 53 and added 69 runs. Earlier, Hashim Amla narrowly missed his first century of the series but together with AB de Villiers set the stage with a solid 118-run partnership and JP Duminy provided the late entertainment with a quick half-century to take South Africa to 288-6 in 50 allotted overs.Amla's 97 ended when he tried to guide Hopes through the cordon and tickled the ball to Brad Haddin, while de Villiers (60) picked out David Warner on the square-leg boundary. Later, Duminy smashed an unbeaten 60 from 42 deliveries. He helped South Africa add 53 in the batting Powerplay, which was taken at the start of the 43rd over, and raised his half-century from 33 balls with a super six over long-off from Nathan Bracken.
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