JOHANNESBURG, March 12: South Africa hit a world record 438 for nine in the highest-scoring One-day International in history to beat Australia by one wicket and win the series 3-2 on Sunday.

In the most extraordinary one-dayer ever, the home side’s victory was achieved with one ball to spare and sparked wild celebrations on and off the Wanderers pitch.

Before Sunday, no side had scored more than 400 in a One-day International and South Africa’s total topped Australia’s record 434 for four earlier in the day.

Two players, Australian captain Ricky Ponting (164) and South African Herschelle Gibbs (175), scored over 150 in the fifth one-dayer.

A total of 872 runs were scored. The previous record was 693 when India beat Pakistan by five runs in Karachi in March 2004.

The previous innings record was the 398 for five Sri Lanka scored against Kenya in Kandy in the 1996 World Cup.—Agencies