Lee returns fire

Brett Lee's rhythm returned and propelled him and Australia back into shape after a subdued start to the one-day series in South Africa. Lee was responsible for giving Australia their opening victory of the disappointing tour with a Man-of-the-Match performance of 4 for 48 from nine overs at Port Elizabeth.

Australia's bowling spluttered in the first two games, but Lee restored the situation with a spell reaching 150kph and gave Ricky Ponting, who returned from a stomach injury with a half-century, a reason to talk about momentum shifts.

"They probably got closer than they should have at the end there," Ponting told AAP of the 24-run success. "Momentum might have swung a little bit. I'm not sure if it's totally back in our favour."

Lee was certain his form had changed after he gave up 59 and 51 runs in the first two matches while claiming only one wicket. "I felt like the rhythm hasn't quite been there the last couple of games," Lee told the agency. "I worked pretty hard in the nets working off my long run. There are times there where you go for a couple of games without getting a wicket, but I felt like the pace was certainly back there today."

Bowling a fuller length, Lee started with the wicket of Graeme Smith and came back to capture Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall and Robin Peterson. His only unscheduled moments were when Roger Telemachus belted him for 20 off an over as he thrashed 29 off 13 balls at the end.

Ponting delivered further bright news for his side when he said Andrew Symonds, who missed the first three matches with a hip-flexor strain, was expected back for the fourth game at Durban on Friday. "We've got almost a week and that should be plenty of time for Andrew to be 100% fit," he said. "He was very close to being right today."