CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – South Africa took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series of one-day internationals when they beat Australia by 25 runs yesterday.

Australia, chasing 290 for victory, were restricted to 264 for seven in their 50 overs.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers led South Africa to 289 for six with classy half-centuries.

The pair came together with the hosts struggling on 50 for two in the 15th over on a slow pitch but took control with a stand of 114 off 131 balls.

Kallis scored 70 off 86 deliveries with five fours and immediately took the run-rate forward with a series of commanding front-foot drives.

South Africa’s leading run-scorer fell to a soft dismissal, pulling a Brett Geeves long-hop straight to wide mid-on at the end of the 36th over.

LEADING EDGE
De Villiers went on to hit 80 in 87 balls and was out in the 41st over when paceman Mitchell Johnson had him caught off a leading edge, playing too early to the leg-side.

Busy innings in the last five overs by Albie Morkel (29) and Mark Boucher (28 not out) then capitalised on the fine work of the middle order.

Johnson, who used changes of pace to good effect, was difficult to get away and finished with outstanding figures of four for 34.

Australia, in reply, slumped to 114 for five before Callum Ferguson (63) and James Hopes (63 not out) gave them hope by adding 97 off 89 balls for the sixth wicket.

Slow left-armer Roelof van der Merwe, who took three for 37, had Ferguson caught at deep extra cover before the brilliant JP Duminy produced his second run-out of the innings to remove Johnson for nine.

Hopes collected five fours in a late flurry as he scored his unbeaten 63 in 60 balls.

The fourth match in Port Elizabeth is on Monday.

SOUTH AFRICA innings
H. Gibbs c Hopes b Bracken 26
G. Smith c Haddin b Johnson 8
J. Kallis c Hopes b Geeves 70
AB de Villiers c Hauritz b Johnson 80
JP Duminy c M.Hussey b Johnson 32
A. Morkel b Johnson 29
M. Boucher not out 28
R. van der Merwe not out 6
Extras (lb-4, w-2, nb-4) 10

Total (six wickets; 50 overs) 289

Fall of wickets: 1-28 2-50 3-164 4-198 5-230 6-283

Did not bat: J.Botha, D.Steyn, W.Parnell

Bowling: Johnson 10-2-34-4, Bracken 10-0-58-1 (1w), Geeves 10-0-67-1 (4nb, 1w), Hauritz 8-0-37-0, Hopes 8-0-64-0, D. Hussey 4-0-25-0.

AUSTRALIA innings
B. Haddin run out 15
M. Clarke b Van der Merwe 35
R. Ponting c & b Botha 20
D. Hussey c Steyn b Duminy 20
M. Hussey lbw b Van der Merwe 1
C. Ferguson c de Villiers b Van der Merwe 63
J. Hopes not out 63
M. Johnson run out 9
B. Geeves not out 10
Extras (b-5, lb-14, w-9) 28

Total (seven wickets; 50 overs) 264

Fall of wickets: 1-30 2-66 3-80 4-83 5-114 6-211 7-226.

Did not bat: N.Hauritz, N.Bracken

Bowling: Steyn 10-0-44-0, Parnell 9-0-47-0, Kallis 4-0-19-0, Morkel 5-0-33-0, Botha 10-1-59-1, Van der Merwe 10-0-37-3, Duminy 2-0-6-1.