Papps, 24, who was dropped to make way for Chris Harris in the last one-day match, ensured a 5-1 series victory for the home side. It was New Zealand's first series win over South Africa in either Test or limited-overs internationals.

New Zealand needed only 187 to win after the Proteas posted 186 for nine from their 50 overs.

Papps and Stephen Fleming put on 58 for the first wicket before the New Zealand captain was run out by Makhaya Ntini with a strong, accurate throw from the deep.

Hamish Marshall (3), Scott Styris (10), Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram (6) then went cheaply as South Africa fought their way back into the game.

Papps stood firm, scoring his second one-day half-century off 85 balls, and ended eight runs short of his maiden one-day hundred from 193 balls with 10 boundaries.

In South Africa's innings, two record partnerships saved the tourists from an embarrassingly small total.

After their team had slumped to 40 for six, Ashwell Prince (47) and Lance Klusener (35) put on 63 for the seventh wicket, a record against New Zealand.

Then with their team 119 for nine, Ntini and Albie Morkel set about the bowling and posted 67, a record against any country. In the process both tail-enders hit their highest one-day scores with Ntini hitting 42 not out and Morkel an unbeaten 23.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum snaffled five catches for the third time in one-day internationals.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his team had simply played bad cricket during the series.

"I'm sick of losing," he said. "I think we've definitely been outplayed. It was simple things, we played bad cricket and they played good cricket.

"We all need to move up a few notches."