De Villiers does the damage

AB de Villiers punishes a short delivery on his way to 80. He shared a decisive 114-run partnership with Jacques Kallis

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Half-centuries from AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis proved decisive as South Africa eased to a 25-run victory over Australia in the third one-day international in Cape Town.

De Villiers and Kallis shared a 114-run partnership for the third wicket to rescue South Africa from early trouble and help them post 289 for six despite four wickets for Mitchell Johnson.

Australia struggled in their chase, with Callum Ferguson (63) and James Hopes (63 not out) only briefly threatening as outstanding fielding and Roelof van der Merwe's 3-37 restricted them to 264 for seven and secured a 2-1 lead in the five-match series for the Proteas.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss but managed just eight before he edged Johnson behind as the advanced down the track.

Herschelle Gibbs was well taken by Hopes off Nathan Bracken at deep midwicket, but Kallis went to 50 off 61 balls and de Villiers followed suit shortly after, having faced six balls more.

Brett Geeves made a fortuitous breakthrough when Kallis, on 70, drilled a short, wide delivery straight to Hopes.

Johnson then removed de Villiers for 80 courtesy of a slower delivery which found the leading edge.

The stylish Kallis, who made a fine 70, holds his pose as South Africa post a challenging 289 for six

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However, after JP Duminy had smashed Johnson, who finished with 4-34, straight to Mike Hussey at cover, Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel plundered late runs.

The tourists made a solid enough start in their response, reaching 30 before the first wicket fell, Brad Haddin run out by a direct hit from Duminy at cover.

Ricky Ponting was dropped twice in successive balls by Boucher and Kallis, although the first chance to the wicketkeeper seemed to be taken on the bounce.

Ponting also survived a run-out chance after charging halfway down the track, only to be spared by a poor throw from Morkel at midwicket, but he finally perished for 20, caught and bowled by Johan Botha.

Van der Merwe struck a double blow in his third over, bowling Michael Clarke for 35 and trapping Hussey leg before despite an inside edge.
Duminy too was an instant hit when he was brought on to bowl, claiming a wicket with his second ball when David Hussey holed out to Dale Steyn at long-on for 20.

That left Australia wobbling on 114 for five, but Ferguson went to a 59-ball half-century, sharing a 97-run stand with Hopes before perishing to Van der Merwe, caught by de Villiers running back from cover.

Another brilliant piece of fielding by Duminy in the deep accounted for Johnson being run out as Australia fell short.

They must win in Port Elizabeth on Monday to keep the series alive, with the final match set to take place in Johannesburg next Friday.