Rival skippers Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith squared off in a bitter slanging match, with both branding each other's side as "chokers" after Australia's white-knuckle one-day win.
Australia's tailenders secured a one-wicket win over South Africa in Durban with five balls to spare, levelling the series 2-2 ahead of tonight's decider in Johannesburg.
Stuart Clark (16 not out) shared a critical 23-run stand with Nathan Bracken after they came together with Australia eight wickets down and needing 29 off 41 balls.
With Bracken dismissed within six runs of victory, it was left to No.11 Mick Lewis to hit the winning runs and deliver a famous win.
Smith sparked the verbal firefight with his opposite number by claiming Australia had choked after being 0-87 and 5-192, chasing 247.
"I felt that they were the team that were choking, if that's the word, and under pressure," Smith said.
Told of Smith's comments, a furious Ponting launched an immediate counter attack.
"We've won the game, so if they want to start talking like that, they would want to have a look at their own performances and see if they can back that up," Ponting said.
"I'm surprised that he'd say that we've choked -- choking normally happens towards the end of a game.
"They can say whatever they like, if they want to keep talking it up and losing games, then fine."
The outbursts have guaranteed a fiery decider tonight, while the war of words has also provided a tantalising entree to the three-Test series, starting in Cape Town on Thursday.
Chasing 9-246 in Durban, Australia was in cruise control at the top of the innings, with Adam Gilchrist (45) and Simon Katich (46) bankrolling the charge.
Australia then lost 4-14 in quick time with the dismissals of Damien Martyn (1) and Michael Clarke (7) ensuring the No.4 Test berth remains a trouble spot.
The absence of veteran paceman Shaun Pollock, who left the field with back spasms and is in doubt for today's match, set South Africa back. The Proteas were forced to turn to part-time bowlers.
Allrounder Andrew Symonds (76) seemed to ensure his side would win, reducing the victory target to 29 off 43 before he and Brett Lee were dismissed in consecutive deliveries.
Australia was lucky to get away with the win and an unhappy Ponting blasted his top order.
Gilchrist and Katich gave away their wickets cheaply.
"It was a really ordinary batting display to tell you the truth," he said.
"The end result of it covers up a lot of deficiencies in the way we batted. To be 0-90 and four for just over 100, that's just not good enough."
- BEN DORRIES