Gibbs and De Villiers lift SA to 317

Herschelle Gibbs finally produced his form of old with a fine century to help South Africa set Australia a massive 318 for victory in the fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth.

Gibbs made 110 and together with AB de Villiers (84) helped the Proteas tear into the visitors' bowling after Ricky Ponting had won the toss and elected to field first.

The home team started out slowly, putting on 46 before Graeme Smith (20) was out in the 11th over chasing a wide ball from James Hopes and sent a thick edge behind to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Debutant Shane Harwood (two for 57) followed that up by accounting for Jacques Kallis, caught at third man by Callum Ferguson for 17 to leave the Proteas at 87 for two.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists with Gibbs and De Villiers piling on the misery in a 136-run stand.

The pair reached their half-centuries in 62 and 51 balls respectively followed by a run-a-ball hundred partnership.

The flamboyant opener brought up his 21st ODI ton in 106 deliveries as South Africa raced past 200 in the 36th over.

Ferguson then dropped De Villiers off Nathan Hauritz diving forward at long-on, but Gibbs perished not long after when Michael Clarke took a simple catch off Nathan Bracken at long-on ending his 116-ball stay.

Mitchell Johnson (two for 59) removed Albie Morkel (four) and De Villiers in quick succession, but the Australians did not help their chances by twice putting down JP Duminy in the deep.

The South Africa middle-order batsman was eventually out with the final delivery of the innings for 40, but he had already forged a 65-run partnership in just 44 balls with Mark Boucher (29 not out) to help the hosts end on 317 for six.

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