Centurion Aaron Finch lashed South Africa’s potent pace attack on Wednesday, lifting Australia to a total of 5-329 in Canberra in their third one-day international.

Finch and David Warner made a typically aggressive start to the one-day clash at Manuka Oval, racing to 0-118 before Vernon Philander snagged a breakthrough to end the 20th over.

Finch continued to plunder runs alongside Shane Watson (40) and Steve Smith (73no off 55 balls), posting his fifth ODI ton in the 35th over.

The 28-year-old slugger cracked consecutive boundaries off Imran Tahir to reach 99, then pinched a hurried single when the legspinner misfielded.

Finch (109) was clean bowled by part-timer AB de Villiers in the 41st over, but it was one of few sources of joy for the Proteas’ skipper.

Smith proceeded to score quickly and with little fuss, the hosts belting 19 runs off the final, seeking to go 2-1 up in the five-game series.

Philander (1-70 from 10 overs) copped the brunt of the early onslaught, the hosts making a powerful statement after George Bailey gave them first use of a pristine batting wicket.

Warner (53) set the tone in the fourth over, crashing the first six of the game with an exquisitely timed stroke that sent the ball whizzing over the head of Philander.

The combative left-hander questioned Philander’s effectiveness on batsman-friendly decks earlier this year, and it wasn’t hard to decipher the mindset of the two openers at Manuka.

Philander conceded 21 runs from his opening three overs.

New-ball partner Morne Morkel (2-84 from 10 overs) was also expensive, while Warner’s disdain extended to Tahir when he was introduced into the attack following the early drinks break.

Warner helped himself to 12 runs off Tahir’s first over.

Warner and Finch’s breezy partnership was laden with lusty strokes, but their running between the wickets carried the same intent.

For the most part, it created singles and converted ones into twos, although Warner was almost run out at the non-striker’s end for 23 following a mix-up.

“We’ve been told to play with cojones,” Warner explained coach Darren Lehmann’s edict earlier this year.

It was a trend that continued following the dismissals of Warner, Watson, Finch, Bailey (12) and Mitch Marsh (22) – all out trying to find the rope.

BEST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL KNOCKS AT MANUKA OVAL:

* 122 – Shane Watson v West Indies Feb, 2013

* 109 – Aaron Finch v South Africa Nov, 2014

* 86 – Phillip Hughes v West Indies Feb, 2013

* 86 – Darren Bravo v Australia Feb, 2013

* 73no – Steve Smith v South Africa Nov, 2014