Australia scrambled over the line for a two-wicket victory in the fifth one-day cricket international against South Africa yesterday to regain the top world ranking less than three months before the World Cup.
The Australia team celebrate a 4-1 ODI series win against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 23 November 2014 Photo: ICC Website
What looked like being a stroll to a convincing 4-1 series triumph when Steve Smith departed for 67 with Australia 11 runs from their target of 275, was transformed into a tense finale.
The South African spinner Robin Peterson (4-32) did most of the damage as the hosts lost four wickets for three runs but James Faulkner held his nerve to smash the winning runs off the first ball of the final over.
Australia who started the series in third position, is just 0.2 clear of India and five ratings points ahead of South Africa, which has dropped one place to third.