Rhodes provides the spark as South Africa overcome Australia

In the least likely of all scenarios, South Africa and New Zealand share top spot on the VB series log with four points apiece after two matches in the tournament. Australia, hosts, World Cup champions and outright favourites, have still to break their duck after slipping to their second defeat in three days, this time by four wickets to South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

As was the case when Australia went down to New Zealand on Friday, the home team's batting failed to spark. On this occasion they were bowled out for 198 in 48.5 overs, a total just about big enough to keep their bowlers interested, but surely insufficient to seriously challenge a confident chasing side.

But by no stretch of the imagination could South Africa be regarded as a confident team after their dismal form in the Test series. Shaun Pollock's side desperately needed someone or something to kick-start their tour and it duly arrived in the shape of Jonty Rhodes.

Rhodes missed the Test matches by his own choice, sticking to a decision to spend more time with his family. It might seem impolite to point out the obvious, but the Rhodes family's gain was quite clearly South Africa's loss.

He started the match a little edgily, missing a square drive from Matthew Hayden early on and then dropping the left-hander at backward point off the last ball of Allan Donald's first over. From there on in, however, he barely put a foot wrong and his contribution to the South African batting effectively won the match for his side.

He has made higher scores than his 43 not out, but the great value of his innings was his reading of the situation and his calmness as the pressure gradually built on the South Africans. He shared a 65-run fourth wicket stand with Neil McKenzie (34) that prevented Australia capitalising on a mini-collapse which saw the chasers slip from 51 for none to 71 for three and stayed there until the end, the winning runs coming by way of four leg byes off his elbow.

As well as Rhodes played, though, Australia will feel they didn't do themselves anything approach justice. They lost Adam Gilchrist to the first ball of the match, rebuilt through Ricky Ponting (51) and Steve Waugh (62) and then lost their last six wickets for 34 from the 40th over onwards.

South Africa, it must be said, bowled and fielded with far greater purpose and commitment than they had shown at any stage of the Test series. And again, you have to wonder whether the presence of Rhodes made the difference.

Still, South Africa had to make 199 before winning and they were given a respectable start by Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten who put on 51 for the first wicket. Of course, Australia will wonder what difference Glenn McGrath might have made, but their three quick men, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Andy Bichel, all bowled decently enough.

Gibbs, who made a 38 which included eight boundaries, never entirely settled, mixing carelessness with a number of handsome strokes, but it was through the McKenzie-Rhodes partnership that South Africa managed to get on top.

The South Africans were watchfulness personified against Shane Warne, but Andrew Symonds had clearly been identified as the weak link in the attack and while Warne barely conceded two runs an over through his first nine-over spell, Symonds' first six overs went at a run a ball.

And then Waugh found himself having to pick between Symonds and Michael Bevan to bowl two of the final three overs; this after the 47th over had been a maiden-wicket from Lee.

Ultimately Australia had given themselves too much to do and Rhodes was able to take South Africa home with more than an over to spare. What effect this win will have on the remainder of South Africa's tour remains to be seen, but their relief at breaking a losing habit was almost palpable.