Australia 322 for 9 (Carey 74, Marsh 56, Bosch 4-60) beat South Africa 145 for 4 (Rickelton 71*, Bartlett 2-25, Zampa 2-34) by 45 runs (DLS)

Australia secured a consolation victory in a damp series finale at Potchefstroom, as half-centuries from Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh were followed by a welcome return to form for Adam Zampa. His figures of 2 for 34 in six mid-innings overs applied a familiar squeeze after an off-colour display in Johannesburg, to ensure that South Africa - at 145 for 4 after 28 overs - were well adrift of a stiff target of 323 when the contest was lost to the weather.

In familiar Highveld fashion, the rain that arrived at 8.30pm local time proved persistent, and with the start of the contest having also been delayed by bad weather, the contest was eventually abandoned an hour later. Up until that point, Ryan Rickelton had carried the fight for the hosts with an unbeaten 71 from 81 balls, but with South Africa making five changes from the side that had already sealed the series at the Wanderers, the eventual 45-run DLS margin was a fair reflection of Australia's dominance.

The result may not have a huge bearing on next week's Test series but, with six members of that squad also taking part in this contest, the carry-over of confidence may not be insignificant. In particular, Australia's batting banded together as it rarely had in this series. The lowest score among their top seven was 23, with each of the batters finding some sort of fluency.

Marsh won't be involved next week but he, in particular, hit the ground running. His bottom-handed power was on full display in the powerplay, as he muscled South Africa's quicks repeatedly over the leg side. By the end of the sixth over, he had struck seven fours and a six over deep midwicket, and by the end of the powerplay, he had already motored past fifty.

By then he had lost opening partner Travis Head for 24, whose propensity for inside edges showed itself once more, as he chopped on to Corbin Bosch - who would finish as the pick of South Africa's bowlers with 4 for 60. Marsh made 56 from 42 balls before being trapped lbw by Bjorn Fortuin in the 14th over, but the innings had set off at pace because of him.

Carey arrived with the platform well set at 118 for 3 after 17 overs, and he consolidated while the likes of Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green attacked beside him. He added 73 for the fourth wicket with Oliver Peake, who was unlucky to be caught by a diving Fortuin at backward point on 48, one ball after the drinks break.

Carey had not struck an ODI fifty in over a year, though he hadn't exactly been bereft of runs in that period either. Still, having made 14 off his first 25 balls, he struck a rhythm through the middle overs, accumulating efficiently against both pace and spin. He reached his half-century off 68 balls, and only then moved up the gears. He was out in the 46th over, cutting a Bosch delivery to short third.

The Potchefstroom surface had not been especially helpful to any variety of bowler, so South Africa had reason to believe the 3-0 clean sweep was still within their grasp. Xavier Bartlett, however, had other ideas, as he did for both openers in his first three overs.

His initial breakthrough was somewhat self-inflicted, as Quinton de Kock shovelled a hip-high short ball to Mitchell Starc at backward square leg for a duck. His follow-up, however, was a beauty, as Aiden Markram was nailed lbw for 15 by an inswinger that bounced and straightened as he played across the line.

Pat Cummins, playing his first ODI in nearly two years - as much as a warm-up for the Tests as a sighter for next year's World Cup - was greeted with a swivel-pull for six over midwicket as Rickelton warmed to his task. Australia quickly turned to spin, and Rickelton duly dumped a Renshaw half-tracker over midwicket for his second six, en route to a 48-ball fifty.

Soon afterwards, however, Zampa was into his work, and South Africa's challenge lost its momentum. With Rickelton on 51, Australia burned a review on an lbw appeal that was shown to have snagged the inside edge, and though Zampa got the verdict in his next over, he was left aghast when his topspinner to Rickelton was shown to be skimming over the top of middle stump.

Undeterred, Zampa made it third time lucky with a perfect dipping legbreak that dragged Matthew Breetzke out of his crease to be stumped for 25, then - two overs later - he landed his googly on that similar wicket-to-wicket line to pin Tristan Stubbs plumb in front of leg stump for 14.

At 125 for 4, South Africa's only route to salvation was a big stand through the middle overs. Rickelton and Corbin Bosch were trying to do the needful but after grinding out a 20-run stand over the next six overs, the rain arrived to end any prospect of a real fightback.