Australia came back strongly after they lost Michael Clarke to a hamstring injury. (Source: AP)

Australia recovered from the setback of Michael Clarke’s early injury and held off a determined counterattack from A.B. de Villiers to win the series-opening limited-overs international against South Africa by 32 runs on Friday.

George Bailey stood in for captain Clarke, who injured his left hamstring, top-scoring with 70 in Australia’s total of 300-8 and then cycling through his bowlers to derail South Africa’s run chase.

Mitchell Johnson (2-38) took early wickets as South Africa struggled to 78-4 before de Villiers (80) and David Miller (65) combined for a 126-run fifth-wicket partnership that put the visitors in control.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (4-48) swung momentum back to Australia with two wickets in three balls, and de Villiers was run out before South Africa was eventually dismissed for 268.