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PERTH, Australia, Monday (AFP) - Australia won a vital match here Sunday when they beat South Africa in a tri-nations series one-day clash at the WACA Ground, but failed to reach the finals of the tournament.

The host nation missed out because they were unable to beat the Proteas by a sufficient margin to snatch a crucial bonus point.

This leaves New Zealand to take on South Africa - who had already qualified for the showdown - in next week's best-of-three deciders.

New Zealand and Australia finish level on points (17 each), but New Zealand claim the second place in the finals because they had a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Australia in qualifying games.

Despite Sunday's loss, South Africa top the qualifying ladder with 18 points.

It was a bitter day for Australia, who failed in their mission despite making 283 for seven wickets in their innings Sunday.

South Africa replied with 250 for five in their 50 overs, with Jacques Kallis proving the backbone of the innings with 104, as the home country won by 33 runs.

To snatch the bonus point that would have pushed them into the finals, Australia had to restrict South Africa to 226 runs.

South Africa sailed past that score with only five wickets down in the 48th of their 50 overs.

Australia reached their imposing total - the highest by any side in the contest - thanks to a savage late assault on the South African attack by all-rounder Brett Lee and left-hander Darren Lehmann, making his first appearance in the tournament.

Coming together with Australia a wobbly 195 for seven wickets, the eighth-wicket pair thrashed the bowling in the last 10.4 overs, putting together 88 priceless runs from 64 balls.

Lee smashed an unbeaten 51 (four sixes, two fours) from 36 balls, while Lehmann hammered an unconquered 49 (two fours) from 47 deliveries.

Lee crashed 26 from one over by star fast bowler Allan Donald that yielded 27 runs, making it the equal most expensive over in a one-day international in Australia.

The record for the most runs off an over in a one-day international in this country was set only two days earlier when South African captain Shaun Pollock hit 27 himself off an over by New Zealand's James Franklin.

Before the late assault, most of the Australian batsmen made sound starts, but failed to capitalise.

In a bright 47-run start from 9.3 overs, openers Adam Gilchrist (31 from 40 balls, with six fours) and Mark Waugh (34 from 45, with four fours and a six) laid a solid platform for a huge score.

But Ricky Ponting (26 from 31, two fours, one six), Damien Martyn (29 from 54, one four) and captain Steve Waugh (42 from 53, three fours) all perished after looking set for big totals.

Left-arm finger spinner Nicky Boje starred for the Proteas at the bowling crease, snapping up 2-38 from his full quota of 10 beautifully controlled overs. 

AUSTRALIA 

A. Gilchrist b Ntini				31
M. Waugh c Kallis b Donald			34
R. Ponting run out	 			26
D. Martyn c Boucher b Boje			29
S. Waugh b Boje					42
M. Bevan c Pollock b Ntini			 1
D. Lehmann not out				49
S. Warne b Pollock				 0
B. Lee not out					51
Extras (B1, LB12, W6, NB1)			20
TOTAL (for seven wkts in 50 overs)	        283
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-47, 2-76, 3-117, 
4-150, 5-157, 6-194, 7-195.
BOWLING: S. Pollock 9-0-44-1, 
M. Ntini 10-1-58-2, J. Kallis 9-0-52-0,  
A. Donald 9-2-62-1, N. Boje 10-0-38-2,  
L. Klusener 3-0-16-0.
Batting time: 218 min 

SOUTH AFRICA

H. Gibbs c Bevan b Bichel			34
G. Kirsten c Martyn b Lee			10
J. Kallis not out			       104
B. Dippenaar c Gilchrist b McGrath		33
J. Rhodes c Martyn b Lehmann			20
M. Boucher c Bichel b Lehmann			12
L. Klusener not out				25
EXTRAS (LB1, W6, NB5)				12
TOTAL (for five wkts in 50 overs)	        250
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-30, 2-66, 3-129, 4-172, 5-198. 
BOWLING: G. McGrath 10-3-21-1, B. Lee 10-1-66-1, 
A. Bichel 9-0-38-1,  S. Warne 10-0-53-0, S. 
Waugh 4-0-26-0, M. Bevan 2-0-17-0, D. Lehmann 5-0-28-2.
Batting time: 221 mins
Australia won by 33 runs.
Man of match: Jacques Kallis  (South Africa)
Points: Australia four, South Africa nil.

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