Australia showed the stuff of champions and South Africa's suspect temperament was again exposed as they crashed to a 36-run defeat in the fourth match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series at Warner Park in St Kitts on Saturday.

After David Warner's first ODI hundred away from home anchored the World Cup holders to a challenging total of 288 for six the Proteas relied on composed half-centuries from Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla to establish the launchpad from which they looked destined to reach the target comfortably.

However the dismissal of captain AB de Villiers for 39 at 210 for four in the 38th over changed the complexion of the match as they lost their last seven wickets for 42 runs to be dismissed for 252 in the 48th over.

Pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and leg-spinner Adam Zampa all finished with three wickets each.

Warner was forced off the field during the run-chase, having damaged his left index finger attempting to snaffle a catch, but the 29-year-old is upbeat he'll be fit to face West Indies at the same venue, where the series continues on Tuesday.

SCORES IN BRIEF

AUSTRALIA: 288 for 6 in 50 overs (Warner 109, Khawaja 59, Smith 52 not out, Wade 24; Tahir 2-45)

SOUTH AFRICA: 252 all out in 47.4 overs (De Kock 19, Amla 60, Du Plessis 63, De Villiers 39, Duminy 41; Starc 3-43, Hazlewood 3-52, Zampa 3-52)

Result: Australia won by 36 runs.