Australia, thrashed by 196 runs two days ago, bounced back to beat South Africa by 24 runs in the third one-day international on Sunday.

Australia made 254 for six and then bowled out South Africa for 230, Brett Lee [Images] finishing with four for 48. South Africa lead the five-match series 2-1. The next game is on Friday in Durban.

South Africa slumped to 69 for five before AB de Villiers, with a career-best 68, and Shaun Pollock [Images] (69) added 119 in 22 overs and brought the home side back into contention.

But a sensational boundary catch by Brad Hogg [Images], leaping one-handed above his head, dismissed de Villiers off the useful left-arm spin of Michael Clarke [Images].

Shane Watson bowled Pollock to end his dazzling 74-ball innings and South Africa were out of the hunt despite a late flourish from Roger Telemachus who struck three mighty sixes in his 29 off 13 balls.

Earlier, skipper Ricky Ponting [Images] returned to action for Australia after recovering from an abdominal strain, top-scoring with 62.

Damien Martyn hit 51 off 69 balls to see Australia through to the last five overs after Ponting was fooled by the length of a Pollock delivery and skied a pull to long-on.

"It's good to get back into the side, it's been a frustrating week sitting and watching the first two games," Ponting told reporters.

Paceman Lee said: "It was one we needed to win and it was a great team effort. The boys put the runs on the board and that gave us something to bowl at."

South African captain Graeme Smith [Images] said: "We just needed one decent partnership in our top five today and 255 would definitely have been a gettable total."

Scorecard:

Australia Innings
A. Gilchrist c Boucher b Pollock 25
S. Katich run out 49
R. Ponting c Peterson b Pollock 62
D. Martyn c Telemachus b Ntini 51
M. Clarke run out 24
M. Hussey c Gibbs b Hall 22
B. Lee not out 6
S. Watson not out 4
Extras (lb-2 nb-3 w-6) 11
Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 254

Fall of wickets: 1-36 2-99 3-173 4-214 5-243 6-244
Did not bat: B. Hogg, N. Bracken, S. Clark

Bowling
S. Pollock 10 - 1 - 45 - 2
M. Ntini 9 - 0 - 56 - 1
R. Telemachus 8 - 0 - 59 - 0 (nb-3 w-4)
A. Hall 9 - 1 - 38 - 1
R. Peterson 10 - 1 - 39 - 0 (w-1)
G. Smith 4 - 0 - 15 - 0 (w-1)

South Africa Innings
G. Smith c Gilchrist b Lee 10
B. Dippenaar lbw b Watson 16
H. Gibbs run out 16
A. de Villiers c Hogg b Clarke 68
M. Boucher c Gilchrist b Lee 5
J. Kemp c Bracken b Clark 0
S. Pollock b Watson 69
A. Hall c Gilchrist b Lee 5
R. Peterson c Gilchrist b Lee 3
R. Telemachus lbw b Bracken 29
M. Ntini not out 1
Extras (lb-3 nb-3 w-2) 8
Total (all out, 47.2 overs) 230

Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-43 3-60 4-68 5-69 6-188 7-192 8-197 9-199 10-230

Bowling
B. Lee 9 - 2 - 48 - 4 (nb-3)
N. Bracken 8.2 - 1 - 40 - 1 (w-2)
S. Clark 9 - 0 - 32 - 1
S. Watson 10 - 0 - 49 - 2
M. Clarke 9 - 0 - 46 - 1
B. Hogg 2 - 0 - 12 - 0