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Harare: A devastating spell of reverse swing from Steyn, and another big innings from Faf du Plessis help beat Australia in tri-series final.
Dale Steyn and reverse swing sparked an Australian collapse, and Francois du Plessis again proved to be almost immoveable as South Africa completed a six-wicket win in the tri-series final at the Harare Sports Club.
Steyn's four wickets lead the Proteas' charge, punctuated by two in two balls as reverse swing suddenly appeared, as Australia lost 5-29 between the 29th and 38th overs.
Some late clean hitting from Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner saw the ninth-wicket partnership add 71 off as many balls and lift Australia to 9-217.
Du Plessis scored 96 before he was caught out chasing a history making fourth ODI series century with South Africa needing just one run to victory. He deparated to a well deserved standing ovation, having compiled 464 runs from five innings in this series.
The last rites were delivered by AB de Villiers, who hit an unbeaten 53. The loss shuffles Australia down to fourth in the one-day international world rankings, but it will be the manner of the collapse in a high stakes game that will give Australia's brains trust much to ponder.
Aaron Finch had anchored the Australian innings with a half-century, until Steyn uprooted his middle stump and with it Australia's steady progress through the middle overs.
The appearance of reverse swing was as sudden as it was terminal. The first ball of Steyn's second spell was through Finch's defences to flatten his middle pole.
The very next ball tailed in late from out wide to rap Glenn Maxwell on the pads in front of leg stump and send him trudging back for a golden duck.
Brad Haddin successfully negotiated the hat-trick ball and the remainder of the over. Steyn was then held back until the 37th over, and his return from the Golf Course End saw a return of reverse to account for Haddin, trapped in front for 6.
Watching from his couch in Sydney, Michael Clarke took to Twitter to express his surprise at the appearance of reverse swing, commenting it was the first sighting of it in the seven matches at the Harare Sports Club.
Before Steyn's intervention, Finch had been steady if not his usual free-flowing and aggressive self, but a valuable 54 anchored the Australian cause.
The Victorian ticked off a few milestones in this innings to keep the stats nerds smiling. He became the third Australian to make 1,000 ODI runs without appearing a Test match, joining David Hussey (1,796) & James Hopes (1,326).
While that is club Finch remains hopeful of extracting himself from, he would be cheered by the news that he reached the mark in his 27th inning, the same number as Mike Hussey and Shaun Marsh. Only Greg Chappell and George Bailey have done it quicker, both of them reaching the milestone in 26 innings.
Mitchell Marsh, Australia's stand out player so far in this series, had looked to be in the mood to continue his form, launching Imran Tahir for a towering six over the HSC pavilion. However, he inside-edged onto his stumps to depart for 27, and Australia's tail was exposed.
Mitchell Johnson tried to hit out, but was well caught on the boundary by Aaron Phangiso to give Morne Morkel a wicket. The tall Protea quick was able to bowl, but laboured in the field with a rotar cuff injury making it impossible for him to throw, and the Australians capitalised several times sneaking quick singles where normally there would be no run.
Phillip Hughes was Steyn's first victim when Australia had just 25 on the board – a blasted drive sharply caught at short cover by AB de Villiers for 15 – while the experiment of Steve Smith at No.3 failed to fire again.
Smith had again looked in fine touch, but a miscued attempt at a pull when on just 10, from a Wayne Parnell short ball, popped up for David Miller to take an easy catch running in from mid-off.
Earlier, South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field first.
South Africa have made one change to the side - Imran Tahir comes in for Rilee Rossouw. Australia have also made one change - James Faulkner replaces the injured Kane Richardson.
Teams
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (Capt.), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir
Australia: Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, George Bailey (Capt.), Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon
Brief scores
Australia - 217/9 (Finch 54, Steyn 4-35)
South Africa - 221/4 (du Plessis 96, de Villiers 57*, Amla 51)
Result - South Africa won by 6 wickets
MOM - Dale Steyn (South Africa)
Player of the series - Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
