Ricky Ponting insists Australia's South African tour hasn't run off the rails despite three successive defeats against the Proteas.
Ponting's men must regroup for the opening one-day international in Durban on Friday night after losing the third Test by an innings and 20 runs, Saturday's Twenty20 International by four wickets in the final over and yesterday's second T20 game by 17 runs.
Chasing 157 to win at Centurion yesterday, Australia scored 8-139, struggling against the spin bowling of Proteas skipper Johan Botha who took 2-16 from four overs.
Michael Clarke and David Hussey both scored 27 for Australia.
''I've been on the record for a number of years saying I don't really take much from series to series as far as momentum goes,'' Ponting said. ''Quite often you've got a vast changeover of personnel from each team. I'd be surprised if the South Africans go into the first one-day game with the same team.
''Sure, you want to win every game that you play and you give your absolute best to win every game that you play. But as far as any of this carrying over to Friday, I'd be surprised if they are even talking that way about it.''
Rival skipper Botha has warned the No1-ranked Proteas a strong opening is vital in the ODI series.
''But we know what happened in Australia,'' Botha said of South Africa's January tour.
''They won two-nil [in the T20 series] and we came back strongly in the one-dayers [winning 4-1] so we'll have to be aware of that.
''We'll have to start well in Durban. That's really important for the one-day team, to have a really good start in the one-day series.
''Hopefully we can do that and keep the momentum going.''
South African spinner Roelof Van Der Merwe took 1-30 to complete a fine game on debut after top-scoring with 48, earning him the man-of-the-match award.
Australia chose to bowl first and held South Africa to 5-156 on a slow-paced pitch.
Shane Harwood (2-21) bounced back from his 0-48 on Saturday in Johannesburg to take the key wickets of JP Duminy (23) and Van Der Merwe.
Limited-overs specialist Nathan Bracken, who was rested from Saturday's game, was Australia's most expensive bowler with 1-44.
The 24-year-old Van Der Merwe thrilled the sell-out crowd of approximately 20,000 with a 30-ball innings that included two fours and four sixes.
''They didn't know who I was. I was an unknown factor,'' Van der Merwe said.
Van Der Merwe took 23 from Bracken's bowling in the 16th over including two sixes and two fours.
Australia cannot afford for its leading ODI bowler to be struggling and Ponting has backed the NSW left-armer to regain form in Durban.
''Nathan's great strength in the last couple of years has been that he has been able to combat everything that the batters have been able to throw at him with his changes of pace or out-thinking them or his execution being so good,'' Ponting said.
''But having not played in that sort of pressure for a while, I just think he was probably a little under-done with his skills.
''He's probably the best trainer and a guy who is getting his preparation right out of anyone involved that I've had for the last few years.
''I'm sure he'll really knuckle down with his work this week and make sure that when he takes the field on Friday he'll be spot-on with his preparation.'' AAP
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