CAPE TOWN.^pr 3: Spectacular late order hitting marshalled by Jonty Rhodes boosted South Africa to a comfortable 46-run win over Australia in their third one day international at Newlands on Wednesday, reports Reuter.

South Africa took a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series after Rhodes undefeated 83 from only 77 balls carried them to 245 for eight after his side had been deep in trouble at 106 for five.

In reply. Australia struggled to 199 all out after being reduced to 25 for four as three wickets fell in four balls of the eighth over. They were further hampered by the absence of opener Mark Waugh who injured right hand in attempting a slip catch and was unable to bat.

Even so Australia might have stood a chance but for South Africa's explosive finish to their innings.

Rhodes snared a 70-run sixth wicket partnership with Natal teammate Derek Crookes to -get the recovery back on the road be fore they were parted at 176 for six.

But a 40-run partnership in five overs with Shaun Pollock (21 in 15 balls) and 23 runs in 10 balls with Rudi Bryson (17 not out in seven balls) lifted South Africa to undreamed of heights.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne came in for some heavy punishment, being hit for three sixes as his last three overs went for 40 runs. He ended with figures of two for 64 in 10 overs.

Australia lost Greg Blewett in the fifth over but the game effectively ended in the eighth.

Stuart Law was caught be-

hind off paceman Bryson for four, Steve Waugh had his off stump uprooted for a first ball duck, and two balls later Michael di Venuto was run out for 13 by a direct hit on one stump from Jacques Kallis.

A 69-run partnership between Michael Bevan (82) and Ian Healy, standing in as skipper for the resting Mark Taylor, merely prolonged the agony for Australia.

The fourth match in the series is in Durban on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard of the third one-

day international between Australia and South Africa at Newlands here Wednesday:

SOUTH AFRICA

Koen c Di Venuto b Dale 22

Gibbs b GiUespie 28

Kallis b Warne 23

Cullinan run out 12

Rhodes not out 83

Cronje b Blewett 3

Crookes c Healy b Wame 18

Pollock lbw Warne 21

Richardson run out 4

Bryson not out 17

Extras (lb-11: nb-1; w-2) 14

Total (for 8 wickets) 245

Fall of wickets: 1-52; 2-53; 3-80; 4-101; 5-106; 6-176; 7-216; 8-222.

Bowling O M R W

Reiffel 10 0 47 0

Dale 10 1 26 1

Gillespie 10 1 39 2

Warne 10 0 64 2

Blewett 6 0 30 1

Bevan 4 0 28 0

AUSTRALIA

Blewett b Pollock 6

Di Venuto run out 13

Law c Richardson b Bryson 4 S Waugh b Bryson 0

Bevan c Kallis b Pollock 82 Healy c and b Crookes 25 Warne run out 23

Reiffel run out 6

Dale not out 12

Gillespie c Gibbs b Donald 17 M Waugh (absent injured) Extras Qb-4: nb-1; w-6) 11

Total (for 9 wkts in 44.5 overs) 199

Fall of wkts: 1-14; 2-25; 3-25; 4-25; 5-94; 6-136; 7-157; 8-170:

Bowling O M R W

Pollock 8 0 35 2

Bryson 9 0 34 2

Donald 7.5 1 25 F

Kallis 6 0 30 0

Crookes 10 0 42 1

Cronje 4 0 29 0

Result: South Africa won by 46 runs.

Man-of-the-match: Jonty Rhodes