CRICKET: Composed batting from Mark Boucher helped steer South Africa to a five-wicket win over Australia in the second VB Series match at the Gabba, Melbourne, yesterday.

Chasing a target of 228, South Africa faltered to 162 for five, but reached a winning total of 231 without further loss thanks to an unbeaten 63 from Boucher.

He put on 69 in an unbroken stand for the sixth wicket with Justin Kemp, who made 29.

Openers Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar put on 27 for the first wicket, but then Australia struck two blows in quick succession.

Glenn McGrath had Smith caught by Simon Katich for 12, and then Jacques Kallis was run out for a duck by Andrew Symonds.

Dippenaar added 28 with Herschelle Gibbs, who then departed for 16 when he gave a catch to Damien Martyn off the bowling of Nathan Bracken.

Dippenaar and Ashwell Prince advanced the score from 55 to 125 before Prince became fourth man out as he gave Mike Hussey a catch off the bowling of McGrath.

Eventually Dippenaar departed for 74, after putting on a further 37 with Boucher, but then Kemp joined the wicketkeeper for what proved the match-winning partnership.

Fine bowling from Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall had limited Australia to 228 earlier.

Pollock and Hall took three wickets apiece to limit the Australian batsman to a relatively modest total.

The Proteas removed both openers without scoring as Pollock first bowled Adam Gilchrist and then had Simon Katich caught by Smith.

He then took his third wicket by bowling Martyn for 12 as the hosts slipped further to 29 for three.

A rout looked on the cards but Hussey and Brett Lee had other ideas as they put together a stand worth 123 off 26 overs and five balls. Hussey finally departed for an innings-high score of 73.