The unbelievable victory in the fifth and final one-day meant South Africa came back after losing the last two games to clinch the series 3-2.

After Australia had scored a world record total of 434-4 surpassing the best of 398 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 1996, their victory seemed almost a formality.

But South Africa put on a stunning display of stroke play to reach 438-9 with one ball to spare.

Herschelle Gibbs scored a monumental 175 from 111 balls with seven sixes while captain Graeme Smith weighed in with 90 to set the platform of a successful chase that world cricket has never seen before.

The pair put on 187 for the second wicket off 125 balls before Smith holed out to the mid-wicket fence. His innings included 13 fours and two sixes. Gibbs dominated a 94-run third-wicket stand with AB De Villiers, who contributed only 14.

After De Villiers' departure, Gibbs fell soon when he chipped Andrew Symonds to long on in the safe hands of Brett Lee.

But that did not stop the South African surge with Johan van der Wath smacking 35 off 18 balls to set up an electrifying finale.

South Africa were left needing 30 off the last 18 balls and Boucher and Telemachus combined to score 17 runs in the 47th over bowled by Mick Lewis to swing the pendulum the Proteas's way.

With seven runs needed off the last over Andrew Hall smacked the second ball off Lee for four over mid-wicket leaving the home side within two runs of target.

Many feared South Africa to capitulate under pressure as has been the case in the past against Australia, after Hall was out the very next ball. However, last man Makhaya Ntini tied the scores with a single off the first ball he faced. And Mark Boucher (50 off 43 balls) then deservingly hit the winning runs with a four over midwicket to banish the bitter memories of the 1999 World Cup.

In a match where records tumbled like ninepins, both teams broke the previously unattainable 400-run barrier. Australian bowler Mick Lewis finished with astonishing figures of 10-0-113-0.