Nathan Hauritz claimed four wickets to help Australia ease to a 141-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI.

The New South Wales spinner claimed the key wicket of Graeme Smith for 52 and looked dangerous throughout as the home side were bundled out for a paltry 145 in pursuit of the visitors' 286 for seven, which was built around Michael Hussey's unbeaten 83.

Brad Haddin (53) also notched a half-century for the Australians, who recovered from being 115 for four just after the 20th over to post the third-highest total ever in a ODI at Kingsmead.

It's all about numbers

In the end, the Proteas were all out in 33.1 overs and suffered their worst ever defeat against their opponents in the 50-over game.

Like Makhaya Ntini did for the home side, Nathan Bracken struck early for the visitors when he tempted Hashim Amla to play at a wide ball that was tickled behind to Haddin for seven.

It was a bonus wicket for Australia who only appealed half-heartedly, but Amla walked off to leave his side at 17 for one.

His opening partner Smith then survived a massive appeal for leg before wicket off Mitchell Johnson (two for 24) that looked plumb out, before helping his side fight back in a half-century stand with Herschelle Gibbs.

Series win will make Aussies number one

The South Africa number three was out not long after though, snapped by a superb catch from a diving Michael Clarke at point off James Hopes (two for 24) for 33.

In the next over, AB de Villiers (two) was sent on his way, trapped lbw by Johnson, albeit through a poor decision from umpire Asoka de Silva after the ball took the bat before hitting the pad.

Smith then reached his 50 in 51 balls when he tapped Hopes for a single, before a double strike from Hauritz (four for 29) saw the hosts slump 110 for three to 112 for five.

Ponting hails bowlers

First the off-break bowler outfoxed the South African skipper with a flighted delivery that was played straight back to the bowler.

Mark Boucher then tried to sweep Hauritz but top-edged to Haddin without troubling the scorers.

Hopes and Johnson then combined to remove JP Duminy for 25 with a short ball from the former pulled via a mis-hit straight to the latter at mid-on.

And Johnson then sent in one of the deliveries of the day to get rid of Johan Botha - the ball was banged in and kicked off the pitch leaving the batsman no option but to try and fend off as it grazed the gloves and lobbed straight to Hussey at gully for eight.

Top Performer

Hauritz then claimed the key wicket of Albie, stumped by Haddin for 14, before Dale Steyn (one) became Ben Laughlin's first ODI victim when he played an early shot and was caught by Hussey at short cover.

Morne Morkel (two) was last man out caught in the deep by Laughlin off Hauritz with Ntini left not out on two.

Hussey starred with the bat

Earlier, Michael Hussey was the star as Australia amassed 286 after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.

The scenario looked totally different at the start, after Ntini (one for 67) put the tourists on the back foot when he sent in an angled delivery that Clarke tried to fend off and only succeeded in edging straight to Duminy at second slip for one.

Haddin and Ponting then dug in raising the half-century stand in just over 10 overs, before the skipper went for a shot too many and was done for by the Morkel brothers - Morne (two for 61) the bowler this time and Albie taking a good catch paddling back from mid-on as the Australia number three failed to clear him and was on his way for 37.

Then came the first of two bizarre run-outs within the space of eight deliveries.

When Haddin perished....

In the 21st over, Haddin dug out an Albie yorker towards De Villiers at backward point and took a step forward, inviting David Hussey to come charging down from the non-striker's end only to be easily run-out for 18.

The Australian wicketkeeper then brought up his 50 from only 55 balls, before being himself run out.

This time new man Michael Hussey steered Botha down to Albie at third man for a single and was not interested in a second run, which did not faze his partner, who found himself way short to leave the visitors at 115 for four.

Callum Ferguson then joined Hussey, putting on 50 in 71 balls, before Steyn (two for 45) struck off the first delivery with the changed ball in the 35th over to end the partnership.

Callum failed after a good start

All-rounder Ferguson (25) was the one to go, slashing a wide delivery straight to Botha at third man.

Another half-century stand followed between Hussey and Hopes, with the former also raising his 50 from 61 balls as the tourists entered the last five overs taking their powerplay at 233 for five.

But they were dealt two early blows, first losing Hopes (38), who was out caught by Steyn at short fine leg after walking across his stumps and trying to flick Morne over the fielder.

Johnson followed an over later when he swung at a widish Steyn delivery and feathered behind to Boucher for one.

But Hauritz (20 not out) offered Hussey good support as they helped Australia set what proved to be a match-winning total.