HARARE, Zimbabwe: Australia beat South Africa by 62 runs in their triangular series one-day international on Tuesday as Mitchell Marsh served up a match-winning display with bat and ball.
Marsh changed the game with his 86 from only 51 balls with seven sixes to lift Australia to 282-7 batting first. He then took two wickets as South Africa fell to 220 all out, despite 126 by Faf du Plessis.
Du Plessis fought a lone battle in the chase with the next highest South African score 24 by Ryan McLaren. Du Plessis might have threatened the total but stood on his own stumps in the 42nd over to be out hit wicket.
Marsh took 2-23, Glenn Maxwell 2-22 and Mitchell Johnson 2-30 as Australia claimed a bonus-point win to qualify for the final.
Australia had lost two in a row and its latest defeat was a three-wicket loss to minnow Zimbabwe on Sunday, the first time it has lost to the Zimbabweans in 31 years.
Without captain Michael Clarke, who returned home with injury, Australia was put in to bat by the unbeaten South African team.
Left-hander Hughes struck his 85 off 92 balls but after the middle order of Steve Smith (36), Glenn Maxwell (2) and George Bailey (32) failed to take control, Marsh did.
The powerful allrounder finished with five fours to go with his seven sixes, and his acceleration saw Australia take 101 runs off its last 10 overs.
Spinner Aaron Phangiso took 2-39 for the best return among South Africa's bowlers. Steyn returned 1-64 in nine overs and took some punishment from Marsh in the 47th over. Marsh hit Steyn's first ball over long-off, the second over wide long-on, and the third disappeared straight over Steyn's head in a 21-run over.
