Former schoolmates AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis both hit centuries in a game-changing 206-run partnership as South Africa chased down 327 to beat Australia by seven wickets. The South Africans struck the first blow against the Australians as they powered to 328/3 and victory — and with 20 balls to spare — at Harare Sports Club.

Captain De Villiers was 136 not out at the end and still striking boundaries despite struggling with cramp in his left leg from around halfway through his innings. His good friend Du Plessis was out for 106 but the pair came together with South Africa 51/2 and by the time they were parted 29 overs later, the Proteas were well on course for victory at 257/3 and both had hundreds.

Their stand was the highest for the third wicket in one-dayers at Harare Sports Club and the highest third-wicket partnership ever for South Africa against its great cricket rival. Du Plessis’ century was his first in ODIs and was laced with 11 fours and a six. De Villiers and Du Plessis reached their centuries in the space of two balls and with almost identical shots.

De Villiers was dropped twice in the space of two overs, too, when Mitchell Johnson and skipper George Bailey both put down simple chances when the South African No. 4 was on 78 and 85 respectively. He made them pay. De Villiers went on to make the second-highest score by a South African against Australia in a 50-over game — second only to Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 in another memorable South African chase, when it made 438 in Johannesburg to beat Australia in 2006.

De Villiers struck 11 fours and two sixes, including a scoop for maximum over backward square leg that he played almost from a sitting position. JP Duminy joined De Villiers at the end and was 33 not out, and South Africa cruised home inside 47 overs. And yet, South Africa appeared to have made a mistake by putting Australia in to bat at the start. Aaron Finch made 102, his fellow opener Phil Hughes got 51 and Bailey a rapid 66 as Australia posted an apparently formidable 327/7.

Brief scores: Australia 327/7 in 50 overs (A Finch 102, G Bailey 66, P Hughes 51; I Tahir 2/45) v South Africa 328/3three in 46.4 overs (AB de Villiers 136 not out, F Du Plessis 106)