South Africa clinch series with a dominating display at the Wankhede

Faf du Plessis celebrates after scoring his century

South Africa won the final match and the one-day international series by 214 runs against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, and AB de Villiers scored back-to-back centuries to help place a mountain target of 439 runs for India.

After winnings the toss, the South African captain AB de Villiers decided to bat first without any hesitation on what look like a good batting pitch.

Teams:

IND XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (Captain and wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma

SA XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (Wicket-keeper), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (Captain), Dean Elgar, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir

De Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa the exact start they needed in the big final. Amla soon became the fastest man to reach 6000 runs in ODIs.

Amla was smashing the ball all-around in the stadium and he scored quick 23 runs off just 13 deliveries before giving away his wicket to Mohit Sharma as he went to chase a wide delivery.

The visitors’ fifty came up in just 5.4 overs. De Kock recorded his 6th ODI fifty and was looking in good touch as always against India. The stats say, every time De Kock crossed 50-run mark against India, he had converted it into 100.

Mohit dropped De Kock on 58. This was going to prove costly for India and it did when the South African wicket-keeper reached his fifth ODI century.

India's bowling looked really ordinary on the Wankhede's flat pitch. Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli were called to bowl as no bowler was proving effective against the Proteas batsmen.

The spotlight was on De Kock, but Du Plessis quietly made his 4th 50 of the series. Soon after that, De Kock got out for 109. South Africa were 187 for 2 in just 26.5 overs and then came De Villiers on the crease.

Later, Du Plessis and De Villiers ripped off Indian bowling line-up together. Even the miss-hits and miscues started going for sixes and fours. The Proteas carnage started with the arrival of De Villiers.

The skipper soon became the third batsman to cross fifty runs mark for South Africa today. He didn't take much time to get into his beast mode.

Du Plessis scored his fifth ODI century and De Villiers his 23rd as South Africa finished on 438 for 4 in their 50 overs quota. The visitors crossed 400 for the 6th time in their short ODI history.

Du Plessis couldn't walk but kept scoring boundaries. He finally got retired hurt on 133. De Villiers was in mood and he kept hitting big ones. He fell after a spectacular 61-ball 119 and crowd gave a standing ovation as he walked back to the pavilion.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10 overs, 106 runs and 1 wicket) recorded the most expensive figures by an Indian bowler in ODIs history. His figures were also the 2nd worst by any bowler.

India's innings started off well with Rohit Sharma hitting two consecutive boundaries in the very first over of Dale Steyn. But the local boy couldn't hold on to his wicket as he got dismissed by the first bowling change Kyle Abbot.

Kohli came, smashed a six and went back to the pavilion after De Kock took a stunner behind the wickets. He touched a wide delivery and gifted his wicket.

Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawan gave India hopes, both scored their half-centuries and looked well set to get India back on track.

But it was a long way to go and Dhawan couldn't hold on to his crease as he played a cross the wicket shot to a straight ball and edged it to mid on. The 112-run third-wicket stand was broken.

Rahane wasn't over yet as he kept playing his strokes. He was leading India in the fearless chase now. Dhoni kept his wicket safe but on the other hand, India kept losing wickets. One by one, everyone failed and India were bowled out on 224 in 35.5 overs.

Brief score:

South Africa 438/4 (50.0 ov)

India 224 (35.5 ov)