Smith stars as Australia down SA to take series

MELBOURNE, Nov 21 (AFP): Steve Smith hit a thrilling century to propel Australia to a three-wicket victory over South Africa to clinch the five-game one-day international series in Melbourne Friday.
Man-of-the-match Smith cracked 104 off 112 balls as Australia stormed home to overhaul South Africa's 267 for eight to win with an over to spare.
The victory wrapped up the ODI series 3-1 over the Proteas ahead of Sunday's final game in Sydney.
The Proteas looked in control for most of Australia's innings, reducing the home side to 98 for five in the 25th over, before Smith turned the tide with a ground record 121-run sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Matt Wade.
As Smith and Wade accelerated the scoring rate the South African bowling and fielding became ragged under pressure and in the end the Australians were an irresistible force surging to victory.
When Wade was brilliantly caught in the outfield by a diving Ryan McLaren for 52 off 94 balls, James Faulkner came in and took up where Wade left off slamming an unbeaten 34 off 31 balls with six fours.
Smith has proved the thorn for the Proteas in this series, hitting an unbeaten 73 to help the Australians win in the third ODI in Canberra Wednesday.
He was annoyed to be bowled by Robin Peterson as he attempted to go after the winning run, but the damage had been done for South Africa. "I was lucky enough to have some good partners out there," Smith said, in praising the contributions of Wade and Faulkner.
"It made it a lot easier. I feel like I'm hitting the ball really well ... I'm playing each ball on its merits.
Australia 7 for 268 (Smith 104, Wade 52) beat South Africa 8 for 267 (de Villiers 91) by 3 wickets.