South Africa, needing a win after losing the first two matches in the seven-game series, seemed set for a comfortable victory when Australia lost their ninth wicket in the 46th over.
Australia had lost six wickets for 45 runs and needed 37 to win off 28 balls.
The first glimmer of hope came when Maher slammed a six off the last ball of the 47th over. It was also the last delivery by Makhaya Ntini, South Africa’s best bowler, who finished with four for 33.
Using his feet to all the bowlers, Maher hit further boundaries off Lance Klusener and South African captain Shaun Pollock.
Ten were needed off the last over, bowled by Jacques Kallis, whose first delivery was no-balled because it was a high full toss. It was also hit for two by Maher.
Singles off the remaining five balls, with Pollock surprisingly not electing to bring his field up to stop the ones, meant the two sides had tied for the third time in 14 matches in less than three years.
The result made Australia firm favourites to win the series with star players like Michael Bevan, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath likely to be available for the remaining four matches after being out of action because of injuries.
McGrath was a late withdrawal Wednesday because of a sore back but his replacement, fast bowler Brett Lee, took four for 45, dismissing South Africa’s opening batsmen, Boeta Dippenaar and Herschelle Gibbs, in a fiery opening spell, then taking two wickets in the closing overs.
Jonty Rhodes hit 83 off 74 balls as South Africa made 259 for seven on a good pitch on a ground with a reputation for high scoring.
Australia also lost early wickets but a quick-scoring fourth wicket stand of 66 off 60 balls between Matthew Hayden and Darren Lehmann put them on target for a third successive win.
A turning point came when Lehmann and Hayden were out in the space of five deliveries.
Lehmann edged a catch behind off Jacques Kallis after hitting 33 off 33 balls. Fellow left-hander Matthew Hayden fell in the next over when he drove left-arm spinner Nicky Boje to cover. Hayden made 78 off 103 balls with three sixes and five fours.
The pace of Ntini sent back Shane Watson, Andy Bichel and Lee as Australia’s hopes slumped.
But Maher and the inexperienced Hauritz batted calmly and enterprisingly to earn their side a share of the honours.
SOUTH AFRICA:
H.H. Dippenaar c Ponting b Lee 7
H.H. Gibbs c Maher b Lee 10
J.H. Kallis c G’christ b G’espie 71
N.D. McKenzie c Martyn b Lehmann 37
J.N. Rhodes c Maher b Lee 83
L. Klusener c Hayden b Lee 20
M.V. Boucher c G’christ b G’espie 5
A.J. Hall not out 18
S.M. Pollock not out 1
EXTRAS (W-6, NB-1) 7
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 259
FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-27, 3-105, 4-180, 5-222, 6-232, 7-256.
DID NOT BAT: N. Boje, M. Ntini.
BOWLING: Gillespie 10-0-46-2; Lee 9-1-45-4 (1nb, 4w); Watson 6-0-40-0; Bichel 10-1-44-0 (1w); Lehmann 9-0-42-1 (1w); Hauritz 6-0-42-0
AUSTRALIA:
A.C. Gilchrist c Boucher b Ntini 16
M.L. Hayden c Gibbs b Boje 78
R.T. Ponting run out 3
D.R. Martyn run out 35
D.S. Lehmann c Boucher b Kallis 33
J.P. Maher not out 43
S.R. Watson c Boucher b Ntini 8
A.J. Bichel b Ntini 7
B. Lee c Boucher b Ntini 8
J.N. Gillespie b Klusener 0
N.M. Hauritz not out 11
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-5, NB-11) 17
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 259
FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-39, 3-112, 4-178, 5-180, 6-194, 7-206, 8-222, 9-223.
BOWLING: Pollock 9-0-49-0 (5nb); Ntini 10-1-33-4 (2nb, 1w); Kallis 9-0-52-1 (1nb, 1w); Klusener 10-0-54-1 (3nb); Hall 4-0-24-0 (1w); Boje 8-0-46-1.
RESULT: Match tied.
UMPIRES: R.E. Koertzen and K.H. Hurter.
TV UMPIRE: Mohammed Nanabhay.
MATCH REFEREE: C.W. Smith (West Indies).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Jimmy Maher.
NEXT MATCH: Bloemfontein, Saturday.—AFP