Herschelle Gibbs [Images] was stunned after his knock of 175 led South Africa to win the highest scoring one-day international with a world record 438 for nine against Australia in the fifth one-day international on Sunday.

The hosts triumphed by one wicket to clinch the series 3-2.

"I don't know where that innings came from and I don't think I've played better," Gibbs said after his 111-ball match-winner.

• Images: ODI history at the Wanderers | Scorecard

"I woke up this morning with the same feeling as when I scored a hundred in the 1999 World Cup -- that today was going to be a different sort of day. It's only happened to me twice and I still can't believe it."

Captain Graeme Smith [Images] was equally flummoxed after South Africa overhauled Australia's daunting total of 434-4 with one ball to spare.

"Chasing 434 is a bit sick, unbelievable. But at the change of innings we said it was a freaky game, so who knows," said Smith, who scored 90 off 55 balls.

"You can't sit down and plan to chase 435 but we knew momentum was going to be the key. Our initial target was 185 in 25 overs and we knew we had a chance after we got way past that.

"It's nice to win a tight game against Australia and it's a massive evening for all of us. It's been an emotional roller-coaster and tomorrow will be all about recovery."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting [Images] acknowledged the manner of the win would give South Africa the momentum going into the three-Test series starting on Thursday in Cape Town.

"South Africa will get something out of it, we must just try and forget about it," said Ponting, who ended up on the losing side despite smashing 164 off 105 balls.

"MENTAL SCARS"

"We'll have pretty much a different group of bowlers for the Tests, so hopefully there won't be too many mental scars from this game.

"There was always a chance they could score 434 because we did. But the odds must have been pretty high although it was a great wicket and the ground's very small.

"But there's no way they should have scored that many runs."

Australia had become the first team to score over 400 runs in limited overs cricket, easily surpassing the previous record of 398-5 scored by Sri Lanka [Images] against Kenya 10 years ago.

The record did not last for very long.

Although Ponting contributed more than a third of the runs, he was dismissive about the achievement.

"I couldn't care less because we lost the game. Today was all about winning the series," he said.

Smith also paid credit to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher [Images], who scored an unbeaten half-century off 43 balls to seal victory.

"Mark Boucher was great at the end, his experience really shone through and the other boys at the end were really controlled and clinical.

"But I think I'll struggle to be involved in such a great game again.

"Credit should go to both sides and the stadium atmosphere was really special, while the pitch was so good that if a bowler was going for seven an over he was doing a good job."