De Kock, Du Plessis, De Villiers lead SA’s run fest of 438 as visitors clinch first ODI series in India They say the world is obsessed with more – more money, more pleasure, more fun, more success, more bliss…
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The hosts could only manage 224-10 in reply, with Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring on 87 runs.
With a margin of 3-2, South Africa claimed their first ever ODI series win against India.
De Kock reached his fifth hundred against India with a six and a boundary followed by a single in the 23rd over bowled by Sharma.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also been among the runs (185 from 4 games at 61.66 per innings) and the half century (53) by Suresh Raina in Chennai after his string of two ducks earlier in the rubber should be the much-needed boost ahead of the needle contest. Du Plessis’s 115-ball stay at the crease was punctuated by 9 fours and 6 sixes while De Villiers, who hit his third ton of the series, hit 3 fours and 11 sixes in his 61-ball knock to completely demoralise the hosts.
South Africa had also scored 438/9 – the same total as today’s, against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006. The fall of the wicket did not bother the visitors as skipper de Villiers made it look easy as he got off to a blinder of a start.
AB de Villiers was the star of a stunning South Africa batting performance as the Proteas thumped India by 214 runs in Mumbai.
De Kock hit 109 from 85 balls, Du Plessis scored 133 off 115 while De Villiers bludgeoned 119 off just 106 balls, just the second instance that there were three batsmen that scored centuries in the same innings in ODI cricket.
The 22-yearold assembled a good relationship with du Plessis, who arrived on after Hashim Amla was trapped for 23, whilst the batsmen combined of 154 runs for a second -wicket stand. Indian team beat South Africa in previous match courtesy Virat Kohli brilliant century. Sympathies were due for the bowlers who must never have experienced such hostile conditions at home.
South Africa after winning the toss made a decision to bat first in the decider match of the ODI series.
It could be a matter of extreme curiosity if de Kock likes Indian bowlers more or his girlfriend.
Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he gave away 70 runs in his ten overs and getting a wicket. The number three ended with nine fours and six sixes in his time at the wicket.
Farhaan Behardien then brought up the 400 after being dropped on the boundary by Suresh Raina and struck the 20th six of the innings as South Africa piled up 144 runs in the last 10 overs.
The South Africans batsmen came in never-ending waves and displayed the avarice of a Genghis Khan.
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Imran Tahir (2-50) accounted for Kumar (1) and Dhoni while Rabada sealed the victory with the final wicket of Mishra (4) in the 36th over.
