It was the 1587th ODI match in cricket history.
It was the 40th match between these two sides. The record now reads: South Africa 20, Australia 19, tied 1.
It was the 16th match between these two sides in South Africa. Both teams have now won 8 matches each.
It was South Africa' 195th and Australia' 460th match.
Umpires Cyril Mitchley and Dave Orchard were officiating in their 61st and 54th match respectively, while AC Smith was officiating in his 11th match as ICC Referee.
South Africa was playing a ODI at home soil without Hansie Cronje for the first time. Cronje had appeared in all the 72 matches played by South Africa in South Africa since 07-12-1992 at CapeTown against India.
Dave Callaghan was making a comeback into South African side after a gap of more than five years. He last appeared for South Africa against New Zealand at Christchurch on 24-02- 1995, thus missing 121 matches in between. Only Pakistan' Sajid Ali (154), India' Robin Singh (146), Australia' Matthew Hayden (142) and West Indies Clayton Lambert (131) have missed more matches in between two consecutive appearances.
Shaun Pollock was captaining South Africa for the second time and first time in South Africa. His only other assignment as captain came in the last league match of recently concluded Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah against Pakistan. He became third player after Hansie Cronje (51) and Kepler Wessels (21) to captain South Africa on home soil.
This match was 40th for Jonty Rhodes against Australia,which takes him past Hansie Cronje' tally of 39 matches. Incidenatally West Indian Desmond Haynes holds the record of playing most matches against Australia- 64.
Adam Gilschrist has now made 20 fifty plus scores (including six hundreds). He thus surpassed Alec Stewart' tally of 19 fifty plus scores as wicketkeeper.Now only Zimbabwe' Andy Flower has made more fifty plus scores as keeper than Gilchrist 36 (including one hundred) in 131 matches.
Mark Boucher became second South African and sixth keeper to effect five dismissals in a match on two occasions after India's Nayan Mongia, West Indian Ridley Jacobs (thrice each), Zimbabwean Andy Flower, Pakistan's Moin Khan and compatriot Dave Richardson (twice each).
Boucher presented the 26th instance of a 'keeper effecting five dismissals in a match.A total of 18 'keepers have now performed this feat. The break-up : five Indians,three West- Indians and SriLankans apiece, two Pakistanis and South Africans apiece and one Australian, New Zealander and Zimbabwean apiece.
Boucher also became third 'keeper to make five dismissals in a match against Australia after SriLanka's Guy deAlwis (five catches) at Colombo PSS on 13-04-1983 and Pakistan's Moin Khan (3 cts+2st) at Melbourne on 23-01-2000. The previous record for South Africa was also on the name of Boucher who held four catches at Birmingham on 17-06- 1999.
Infact Boucher would have created a new world record had he held on a simple catch offered by Brett Lee of the first ball of 49th over (off Pollock' bowling).
The ninth wicket partnership of 55 runs between Damien Martyn and Brett Lee was Australia' best for this wicket in South Africa. This obliterated the previous record stand of 29 runs between Adam Dale and Jason Gillespie at Cape Town on 02-04- 1997. The pair however just failed to beat Australia' ninth wicket record stand against South Africa home or abroad which still remains as 57 between Ian Harvey and Andy Bichel at Perth on 18-01-1998.
Gary Kirsten was dismissed for the second time in nervous nineties. He had made 93 against India at Faridabad on 15-03-2000. He became third South African after Hansie Cronje (thrice)and Lance Klusener (once) to be a victim of nervous ninety against Australia.
The total was South Africa' highest against Australia batting second to win a match. The previous highest was 239 for 2 in 45 overs at Guwahati on 01-11-1996.
The victory was South Africa' first in last five matches between these two countries. South Africa had last beaten Australia at Melbourne on 23-01-1998.
The Man of the Match award was 12th for Gary Kirsten in ODIs.