Australia have smashed a record 6-344 against South Africa, monstering the Proteas by 57 runs to take a massive psychological advantage into the tri-series finals starting Friday.

Sparked by opener Adam Gilchrist's blazing 88 from 66 balls, Australia's tally was its highest-ever against South Africa and the second-highest at the SCG in one-day internationals.

It was also the highest score South Africa had conceded in a one-day international, beating Pakistan's 6-335 at Port Elizabeth in 2002-03.

Facing what would have been a world-record chase of 345 to win, South Africa replied with 6-287, its highest score of the series, led by a plucky 76 from wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

"We're in really good shape for the finals and we're really looking forward to it," Australian captain Ricky Ponting said after the win.

The only drama for Ponting's world champions was the ongoing uncertainty over paceman Glenn McGrath's playing career, after McGrath announced on Friday his wife Jane was battling cancer for a third time.

McGrath missed Friday's 80-run win over South Africa in Melbourne, did not play again on Sunday night and is unavailable for the best-of-three finals series.

Australia won the toss and batted with Gilchrist and Simon Katich (11) sharing an opening stand of 65 in 8.1 overs.

Gilchrist was in rare form, reaching his half-century in 29 balls.

The powerful West Australian hitter clubbed 14 boundaries before top-edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher at 2-138 in the 18th over.

Captain Ponting breezed to an effortless 72 before he fell at 4-203 in the 30th over.

Damien Martyn took control in the closing overs and was finally run out from the last ball of the innings for 79.

Martyn put on 81 runs for the sixth wicket with the ever-reliable Mike Hussey (47 not out).

South Africa, which needs to win on Tuesday against Sri Lanka in Hobart to qualify for the finals series, rested key paceman Shaun Pollock, who has a bruised left heel.

His replacement Monde Zondeki (0-42 from four overs) took the new ball with Johan van der Wath (10 overs 0-76) but the pair were out of their depth against the Australian batting onslaught.

Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee (1-31) continued his dominance over Graeme Smith (6), removing the South African skipper in the third over of the innings.

Boeta Dippenaar (27), Herschelle Gibbs (46), Justin Kemp (28) Ashwell Prince (25), Jacques Rudolph (31 not out) and Johan van der Wath (37 not out) all got starts for the Proteas.

Van der Wath hit two fours and four sixes off 16 balls, giving the crowd of 35,136 some late entertainment.

Ponting said Gilchrist's innings had given Australia enormous momentum.

"The rest of us just had to bat around that innings. From 15 overs onwards, we were always going to get more than 300," Ponting said, giving credit also to Martyn and Hussey.

Gilchrist said: "It was an inexperienced attack, really good wicket and a short boundary one side, so all the ingredients were there to be positive."

The hard-hitting wicketkeeper admitted his "flying start" led him to think of becoming the first player in one-day internationals to post a double-hundred.

"Probably that was my biggest mistake. You sort of think that no-one has got 200," said Gilchrist, whose highest score is 172.

"As soon as you think about it, you're out. It came to my mind when I realised how quickly I was going, hitting 80 in the 15th or 16th over.

"I thought if there's a day it might be today. But it's always the case. As soon as you think too far ahead, the game comes back and bites you."

A downcast Smith said his key paceman Pollock was not only battling a bruised heel but also a recurrence of last year's ankle injury.

"It is a little bit of a worry at the moment. We hope that he will be fit for Tuesday," Smith said.

"We obviously need to manage him going forward for the rest of the season (with South Africa hosting Australia later this month)."

Smith said his inexperienced bowling attack just didn't come up against the powerful batting of Gilchrist.

"He really just puts you under pressure from the word go and he certainly did that today," Smith said.

"I think our inexperience showed and maybe our lack of depth at the moment," added Smith, accusing his bowlers of spraying too many down leg and pitching short too often.

"Some of our boys have just come out of domestic cricket and they know what international cricket is all about now.

"We've really just got to pick ourselves up for Tuesday and get our basics right."

He said it would be a test of character for his side to bounce back in Hobart at the end of a long and gruelling Australian tour.

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