BBC SPORT | Cricket | Specials | Australia v South Africa

VB Triangular Series, Perth: Australia 283-7 (50 overs) beat South Africa 250-5 (50 overs) by 33 runs.

Australia failed to qualify for the final of their annual triangular one-day competition for only the third time as Jacques Kallis compiled an excellent 104 not out at the WACA.

Winning the match was cold comfort for the home side, who needed to restrict South Africa to a total of no more than 226 to claim the bonus point which would have put them in the final in place of New Zealand.

Australia gambled on playing only four specialist bowlers in an attempt to ensure they made a match-winning total, but the plan backfired as the 11 overs shared between skipper Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan and Darren Lehmann cost 71 runs.

Kallis on his way to three figures
Kallis punishes a loose delivery

Kallis hit a six and seven fours in eighth one-day century of his career, but the most exciting innings of the game was played by Australia's Brett Lee, who hammered an unbeaten 51 off 36 balls.

South Africa went into the game having already qualified for the final by virtue of their 67-run win over New Zealand on Friday.

But New Zealand's decision to bat out the full 50 overs rather than chase their target left Australia an uphill task.

The home side batted solidly after Adam Gilchrist had set them on their way with a bright and breezy 31, including six fours.

Captain Waugh weighed in with 42 but the acceleration was provided by Lee and Lehmann, who shared an unbroken stand of 88.

Donald suffers

The pair took 59 runs in the last five overs to the delight of a sell-out 26,000 crowd.

Brett Lee lofts one of four sixes
Lee's big hitting lifted the crowd

The 48th over, bowled by veteran paceman Allan Donald, saw Lehmann take a single and Lee then blazed 6,4,6,4,6 off the next five balls.

And he reached his maiden one-day fifty by taking two off the last delivery of the innings.

Lee then made an early impression with the new ball by removing Gary Kirsten in the 10th over of South Africa's reply, caught by Damien Martyn for 10.

But he came in for some stick thereafter, conceding 66 in his 10 overs as South Africa progressed towards the 227 they needed to put Australia out of the competition.

Herschelle Gibbs went for 34 but Boeta Dippenaar helped Kallis add 63 for the third wicket before he was caught behind off Glenn McGrath for 33.

Kallis stayed calm as Lehmann's left-arm spin accounted for Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher and played out the last eight overs in tandem with Lance Klusener, who made 25 not out.

South Africa will be without fast bowler Steve Elworthy for the final. He is flying home because of a groin strain.

Teams:

Australia - Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath, Ian Harvey (12th man)

South Africa - Shaun Pollock (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald, Justin Ontong (12th man)