Australia motored to a thumping 80-run win over South Africa last night at Telstra Dome but celebrations were muted by news Glenn McGrath's wife has suffered a recurrence of cancer.
Jane McGrath, who has successfully beaten breast and bone cancer in the past, will undergo radiotherapy treatment early next week.
McGrath was a late withdrawal from yesterday's VB Series clash, and flew home to Sydney to be with his wife and two children.
A statement released on behalf of the McGraths by Cricket Australia said the couple remained positive the treatment would be successful.
"As with her previous episodes, both Jane and Glenn are extremely positive that the treatment will be successful and have requested that during this time, all parties respect their privacy," the statement said.
"It is Glenn's intention to continue playing with the Australian cricket team, however, his immediate concern is with his family, and he will discuss his playing schedule with Cricket Australia and team management in due course."
Chasing 282 for victory, the patchwork Proteas struggled to 9-201 off their 50 overs.
Skipper Graeme Smith's terrible run with the bat against Australia continued when he was trapped leg before for a second-ball duck to a Brett Lee (4-30) swinging yorker.
He was a disconsolate figure as he ambled off the Dome's damp field, having yet to post a half-century in 10 innings against Australia this tour.
The Proteas sit in second place behind Australia on the VB table, and need to win one of their last two preliminary games to make the finals.
That could come in tomorrow's clash against Australia at the SCG, but it seems likely Tuesday's match against Sri Lanka in Hobart will decide who meets Ricky Ponting's men in the best-of-three finals.
The Proteas slipped into a good position to press for victory yesterday when the world champions tumbled to 5-167 in the 38th over.
Ponting (53 off 63) and Damien Martyn (34 off 46) enjoyed a patient stand of 74 off 85 balls before the latter was snapped up at backward point.
Martyn's dismissal sparked a fightback by the Proteas who snared 3-22 in six overs, with Ponting and Michael Clarke (1) joining the West Australian in the shed.
But a rampant sixth-wicket stand of 109 off only 76 balls between Mike Hussey (62 off 44) and Andrew Symonds (65 off 50) turned the heat back on the tourists.
They blasted 19 runs off Smith's final over of tame off-spin, which was the 47th of the innings, and in the next, bowled by Johan van der Wath, Hussey crunched 17 runs, including four straight boundaries to start the over.
Hussey had thumped nine boundaries and helped plunder 63 runs off the final five overs before his precision-perfect knock was brought to an end by an attempted slog over mid-wicket with three balls remaining.
Hussey appears to be in a two-man race with Lee for the one-day player of the year award, to be decided at the Allan Border Medal count on Monday.
His innings last night, which left him with a staggering career average of 102, would have earned him vital votes.
Lee, who was due to be rested, also contributed a vote-catching performance after taking his place once McGrath was a late withdrawal.
He turned the screws on the Proteas with the scalp of Smith, and backed up later with three wickets on the first, fourth and sixth balls of his eighth over, and the 39th of the match, to guarantee Australia of victory.
- JON PIERIK