Opener Adam Gilchrist smashed 88 runs from 66 deliveries on Sunday to lead Australia to a record score of 344 for six wickets against South Africa in a tri-series limited-over international.
Australia’s total was its highest against South Africa and the second-highest at the Sydney Cricket Ground in one-day matches.
The Proteas must now make a world record run chase of 345 to win.
South Africa must win this match or the final round-robin match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday at Hobart in order to qualify for the best-of-three series finals against Australia.
Gilchrist reached his half-century in 29 balls as he and Simon Katich (11) put on an opening stand of 65 in 8,1 overs.
Andrew Symonds (7) was unable to repeat his 65 from Friday night’s 80-run win over South Africa, but captain Ricky Ponting breezed to an effortless 72.
The Australian captain gently pushed a catch off the bowling of spinner Johan Botha to mid-wicket at 203-4 in the 30th over.
Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke (27) added 60 for the fifth wicket and Martyn was run out from the final ball of the innings for 79 off 75 balls. Martyn added 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Mike Hussey (47 not out from 33 balls).
For the second successive match, Australia left out leading paceman Glenn McGrath, who announced on Friday his wife Jane was again battling cancer.
Cricket Australia released a statement on Sunday saying McGrath was making himself unavailable for the finals series, which starts in Adelaide on Friday. – AFP
