CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – South Africa took a 2-1 lead  in the five-match series of one-day internationals when they  beat Australia by 25 runs yesterday.

Australia, chasing 290 for victory, were restricted to 264  for seven in their 50 overs.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers led South Africa to 289 for six with classy half-centuries.

The pair came together with the hosts struggling on 50 for  two in the 15th over on a slow pitch but took control with a  stand of 114 off 131 balls.

Kallis scored 70 off 86 deliveries with five fours and  immediately took the run-rate forward with a series of  commanding front-foot drives.

South Africa’s leading run-scorer fell to a soft dismissal,  pulling a Brett Geeves long-hop straight to wide mid-on at the  end of the 36th over.

De Villiers went on to hit 80 in 87 balls and was out in the  41st over when paceman Mitchell Johnson had him caught off a leading edge, playing too early to the leg-side.

Busy innings in the last five overs by Albie Morkel (29) and  Mark Boucher (28 not out) then capitalised on the fine work of  the middle order.

Johnson, who used changes of pace to good effect, was  difficult to get away and finished with outstanding figures of  four for 34.

Australia, in reply, slump-ed to 114 for five before Callum Ferguson (63) and James Hopes (63 not out) gave them hope by  adding 97 off 89 balls for the sixth wicket.

Slow left-armer Roelof van der Merwe, who took three for 37,  had Ferguson caught at deep extra cover before the brilliant JP  Duminy produced his second run-out of the innings to remove  Johnson for nine.

Hopes collected five fours in a late flurry as he scored his  unbeaten 63 in 60 balls.

The fourth match in Port Elizabeth is on Monday.