SYDNEY: Quinton de Kock hit the first one-day century by a South African at the Sydney Cricket Ground to help his team to 280 for six in the final one-day international against Australia on Sunday.
The wicketkeeper's 107 off 123 balls with 14 fours was his sixth ODI hundred but first against Australia.
In the absence of injured skipper AB de Villiers, de Kock stepped up to play a valuable innings for the Proteas, who were looking to avoid a fourth defeat in the five-game ODI series.
De Kock survived a close shave on 98 as Steve Smith's throw narrowly missed the stumps when the batsman was well down the pitch.
He went on to raise his century before he was caught off his glove going for a uppercut off paceman Pat Cummins in the 41st over.
De Kock put on 107 for the second wicket with Rilee Rossouw, who scored 51 off 71 balls as a replacement for de Villiers.
The skipper injured his ribs while fielding in Friday's fourth ODI in Melbourne.
Farhaan Behardien provided late fireworks in his best knock of the series with 63 off 41 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
He looked set for a third six only to be athletically caught above his head by Smith on the boundary rope. Cummins was the best Australian bowler with three for 54.
Australia will go to the top of the ICC one-day rankings if they win Sunday's final ODI to take the series 4-1.
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