Proteas open with a win

[stan]

An unbeaten century from Graeme Smith was the catalyst for South Africa's convincing six-wicket win over Australia in a rain-affected opening one-day international at the Supersport Stadium in Centurion.

Chasing an original target of 233, the Proteas skipper survived a close call on 16 before going on to punish some wayward bowling from an inexperienced visiting attack.

Smith's 119 in 124 balls was a record one-day international individual score for a South African against Australia and laid the platform for the hosts reaching 4-207 and a win under the Duckworth Lewis method.

Brett Lee (0-59 from 10 overs), Mitchell Johnson (0-28 off three) and Mick Lewis (0-25 off three) all suffered at the hands of the South African top order.

Classy batsman AB de Villiers chipped in with his highest one-day score of 43 off 30 balls but will kick himself for not going on to make that elusive first half-century after being handed a lifeline when Shane Watson dropped him on 12.

For the third wicket, Smith and de Villiers shared a rapid-fire 83-run stand from just 62 balls, a partnership full of glorious boundaries from each batsman.

Then, after losing Boucher through a botched run attempt, Smith and Justin Kemp saw the hosts home.

Nathan Bracken bowled a tight five-opening spell of 1-14, including the wicket of Boeta Dippenaar, who missed one which kept low.

Herschelle Gibbs then followed without troubling the scorers after a sharp piece of close fielding from Michael Clarke.

But even when the third-wicket stand came to an end, South Africa's run rate never dropped below that required with Kemp finishing on 24 not out.

Earlier, the Proteas took full advantage of some gloomy batting conditions with a lively wicket and some superb fielding combining to restrict the Aussies to 8-229 from 47 overs.

South African speedster Makhaya Ntini grabbed the early wickets of Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist on his one-day comeback following a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a knee injury.

And Shaun Pollock broke the back of the Australian innings when he returned figures of 2-6 in his second spell to finish with the impressive numbers of 3-23 from 10 overs.

Off Pollock's bowling, great catches from de Villiers and Dippenaar got rid of Clarke (53) and Mike Hussey (56) after the middle-order pair had built a solid 100-run partnership.

That was all from the cricket australia web site.

I would also like to add that Mitchell Johnson bowled like crap. Lewis wasnt much better. I think without McGrath there we have issues against the Proteas. I would say get Dizzy or Kasper over there as soon as.