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Australia scrape victory to level series

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  • Australia scrape home by just five runs in the second one-day match in Hobart
  • The hosts level series at 1-1 after South Africa fall short of victory target of 250
  • 93-run stand between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers nearly saw SA home
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(CNN) -- Australia overcame another potential powerplay roadblock to scrape home by five runs in the second one-day international against South Africa at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

In a similar situation to Friday night, the visitors -- chasing 250 to take a 2-0 series lead -- required 60 runs from their final six overs when they initiated their batting powerplay.

Mark Boucher, with 37 not out, and Albie Morkel, the South African hero from the MCG, nearly pulled off the impossible with an unbeaten whirlwind stand of 39 off only 19 balls.

With 41 required from the final three overs, they struck 15 and nine off the next two, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Bracken, leaving an unlikely 17 off the final over to pinch victory.

Seven runs were still needed from the final two balls after Boucher slogged Hilfenhaus over mid-wicket for six but the Tasmanian paceman held his nerve to seal Australia's win.

After Australia reached 249 for nine on the back of half-centuries from Ricky Ponting and Shaun Marsh, the Proteas were on track for another against-the-odds victory thanks to a 93-run stand between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.

But Hilfenhaus' reintroduction into the attack in the 35th over changed the complexion of the match.

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