Australia vs. South Africa: Triangular Series Highlights, Scorecard and Report

Australia set up a meeting with South Africa in the final of Saturday's Triangular Series tournament in Zimbabwe with a 62-run victory over the same opponents.

After being put into bat by the Proteas, Australia made 282-7 in their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club.

They then dismissed SA for 220 in 42 overs in their reply despite 126 from Faf du Plessis.

			Runs	Minutes	Balls
Amla	c Haddin	b M Marsh	17	38	28
de Kock	c Smith	b Maxwell	1	4	5
du Plessis	hit wicket	b Richardson	126	177	109
de Villiers	c Bailey	b Lyon	6	23	19
Duminy	c Sub	b M Marsh	16	25	32
Miller		b Johnson	3	8	5
McLaren	c Smith	b Richardson	24	52	41
Steyn	run out (Smith)		5	17	10
Phangiso	not out		3	18	9
M Morkel		b Johnson	0	5	2
Tahir	c M Marsh	b Maxwell	2	4	4
Extras		0nb 10w 0b 7lb	17
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Johnson		9	1	30	2
Maxwell		4	0	22	2
Richardson		8	0	38	2
Starc		8	1	47	0
M Marsh		5	0	23	2
Lyon		10	0	53	1

Phillip Hughes made 85 at the top of the Australian order before a late flurry by Mitchell Marsh, who smashed seven sixes in an unbeaten 86 off just 51 balls.

"

Mitchell Marsh hit 7 sixes, the 2nd most by an Aussie against South Africa in an ODI match, Ponting hit 9 sixes at Johannesburg 2006 #SAvAus

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) September 2, 2014"

After Sunday's embarrassing three-wicket loss to Zimbabwe, the Baggy Greens started steadily and reached 43-0 at the end of the powerplay.

Ryan McLaren then removed Aaron Finch (16), but Hughes and the recalled Steve Smith put on 87 for the second wicket.

			Runs	Minutes	Balls
Finch	c Duminy	b McLaren	16	45	36
Hughes	c Miller	b Phangiso	85	145	92
Smith	c de Kock	b Tahir	36	70	62
Maxwell	c de Kock	b Steyn	2	8	6
Bailey	st de Kock	b Phangiso	32	44	35
M Marsh	not out		86	64	51
Haddin	c Phangiso	b M Morkel	11	31	17
Johnson	run out (Phangiso)		2	7	2
Starc	not out		1		1
Extras		2nb 3w 0b 6lb	11
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Steyn		9	0	64	1
Duminy		4	0	24	0
M Morkel		9	1	51	1
McLaren		8	0	56	1
Tahir		10	0	42	1
Phangiso		10	0	39	2

Imran Tahir had Smith (36) caught behind, and Glenn Maxwell went cheaply before Hughes fell 15 runs short of a third one-day international century when he picked out long-on off the bowling of Aaron Phangiso.

Slow left-armer Phangiso had George Bailey—leading the Australia side instead of Michael Clarke, who has returned home due to injury—stumped for 32, but the Aussies still scored 101 in the final 10 overs.

Marsh smashed Dale Steyn for three consecutive sixes in his blitz, which culminated in him dispatching McLaren for consecutive maximums in the final over.

"

Mitchell Marsh 47th ov 21 runs off Steyn 48th ov 15 runs off McLaren 49th ov 7 runs (4b) off Morkel 50th ov 14 runs (4b) off McLaren #AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 2, 2014"

The Aussies were well on top, and the Proteas lost steady wickets in their reply. SA were reduced to 102-5 at the halfway stage, and Marsh continued his fine day by picking up two wickets.

However, Du Plessis brought up his half-century off 57 balls, and a 50 partnership for the sixth wicket with McLaren came up off 48 balls.

Kane Richardson ended a 73-run stand at the end of the 36th over by removing McLaren (24), but Du Plessis brought up his second ODI hundred in the next over and then hit Mitchell Starc for back-to-back sixes to leave 78 runs needed off the final 10 overs.

"

Faf du Plessis (2 ton v Aus) is the only non-Tendulkar player to hit more than 1 ODI ton v Australia at neutral venue. SRT hit 4 ton #SAvAus

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) September 2, 2014"

However, Steyn was run out before Du Plessis hit his own wicket with his right foot after smashing eight boundaries and six maximums in a 109-ball innings.

Mitchell Johnson then bowled Morne Morkel for a duck before Tahir was caught at deep cover off Maxwell to complete a bonus-point victory.