South Africa hit world record to win series 3-2

JOHANNESBURG, Mar 12 (Reuters) South Africa hit a world record 438 for nine in the highest-scoring one-day international in history for a series-clinching one-wicket win over Australia today.

The victory in the most extraordinary one-dayer ever was achieved with one ball to spare.

A total of 872 runs were scored in the fifth one-dayer and two players, Australian captain Ricky Ponting and South African Herschelle Gibbs, scored over 150.

Before today, no side had scored more than 400 in a one-day international and South Africa's total topped Australia's record 434 for four earlier in the day.

The previous record for runs scored in a one-day international was 693 when India beat Pakistan by five runs in Karachi in March 2004.

The previous innings record was the 398 for five Sri Lanka scored against Kenya in Kandy in 1995-96.

Australia had been 2-0 down in the series, suffering a record 196-run loss in the second match, before drawing level at 2-2.

Ponting blasted 164, reaching his century off 73 balls. In all he faced 105 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and nine sixes.

Gibbs then kept the home side up with the required scoring rate by blazing 175, including seven sixes, off 111 balls.

Gibbs's was the second highest score by a South African after Gary Kirsten's 188 not out against the United Arab Emirates at the 1996 World Cup.

Ponting is the first Australian to reach 9,000 runs in one-day internationals and his innings was the third highest by an Australian.

Reuters KD DB2203