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South Africa beat Australia by six wickets

Gary Kirsten guided South Africa to a six-wicket victory over Australia at Kingsmead on Wednesday as the host country shrugged off the absence of axed captain Hansie Cronje in the first of three limited-overs internationals.

It was a triumphant start to the South African captaincy for Shaun Pollock, who led the side to victory over the World Cup champions in his home town.

Pollock was made captain on Tuesday when Cronje was fired after admitting he had taken money from an Indian bookmaker.

Kirsten made 97 off 126 balls just 15 days after collapsing with what was diagnosed as a torn disc in his lower spine while batting against Pakistan in a tournament in Sharjah. He had been expected to be out of action for at least three weeks but recovered after three days of bed rest.

The left-handed opening batsman put on 129 in a third-wicket partnership with Jacques Kallis (61) and a quickfire 60 for the fourth wicket with Jonty Rhodes (46 not out) before being bowled by a slow full toss by Brett Lee when he was three runs short of his 10th one-day international century, with South Africa needing 13 to win.

South Africa earlier seemed headed for an easy triumph when Australia crashed to 120 for seven against disciplined bowling after being sent in. But Damien Martyn made a determined 74 and received good support from tailenders Damien Fleming and Brett Lee as the Australians made a competitive 240 for nine.

Fleming and Lee made career-best scores of 29 and 24 not out as they shared stands of 65 and 55 with Martyn, who was run out off the last ball of the innings. Martyn made his 74 runs from 91 balls with seven fours.

South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher dropped a simple chance off Lee which would have given him a world record sixth catch behind the stumps when Lee was on 17 and the total 218 for eight. Lee skied a pull off Pollock's bowling but Boucher fluffed the opportunity.

Boucher had earlier held four catches off fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and a sensational diving effort to dismiss Adam Gilchrist off Mornantau Hayward. Gilchrist made an aggressive 51 off 40 balls with five fours and three sixes. Ntini was South Africa's most successful bowler with four for 56.

Glenn McGrath bowled impressively for Australia, taking one for seven in an opening spell of six overs, his victim being Herschelle Gibbs for nought, then dismissing Kallis when he returned for a second spell.

McGrath finished with two for 21 off nine overs.