South Africa crush India by 214 runs to win ODI series

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Oct 26, 2015: The cream of South African batting battered a toothless Indian bowling attack into submission to clinch the five-match series in ruthless fashion here on Sunday.

 

Quinton de Kock (109 runs, 87b, 17x4, 1x6), Faf du Plessis (133 retired hurt, 115b, 9x4, 6x6) and AB de Villiers (119, 61b, 3x4, 11x6) all smashed centuries as the Proteas sent the Wankhede Stadium into amazement by raking up a mammoth 438/4, the highest ever score at this venue and only the second instance where three batsmen from the same team have scored centuries, with the Proteas being the last to do so this January.

Needing a heroic effort to chase down a record target, the Indian batsmen could only manage to make a fight out of it temporarily before being dismissed for 224 that saw the visitors wrap up a thumping 214-run win and the series 3-2.

Winning a very important toss on a belter of a wicket, South African skipper de Villiers had no hesitation in electing to bat and they were off the blocks in a flash. Southpaw de Kock, who has taken a special liking to the Indian bowling, kicked off his innings straightaway in top gear and rarely lifted his foot off the accelerator to make sure the run-rate always stayed over 6 runs an over.

At the other end, Hashim Amla, battling a rare slump in form, showed signs of recovery as he too sped away without any discomfort, toying with the Indian pacers who just didn’t couldn’t get any sort of control. Just when he appeared set for a big one, the right-hander fell while trying to drive a wide ball from Mohit Sharma.

De Kock then took charge from there, carting the Indian bowlers all over the park with utter disdain. With du Plessis taking time to settle down in the searing heat, de Kock did all the big-hitting without showing any fear whatsoever. Dropped once on 58 by a slow-reacting Mohit at mid-off, the 23-year-old made the best use of the lifeline by galloping to his eighth ODI century — fifth against the Indians — in the 23rd over itself as the Proteas appeared headed for a huge score.

De Kock perished soon after reaching his century but worries just grew for Indian skipper MS Dhoni as his counterpart de Villiers walked in to loud cheers. In scintillating form this series having already clobbered two centuries, de Villiers was not going to waste a chance to lay the sword on an uninspiring attack and he ripped the Indian bowlers apart in typically audacious fashion. Dealing largely in sixes, he kept sending the ball into the stands as the Indians just went through the motions hoping for the siege to end.

Du Plessis, who was slow to start off and was dropped twice, began to turn the heat on the Indians as his innings wore on. In the company of de Villiers, he bludgeoned the Indian bowlers who simply didn’t have an alternative plan to contain the carnage.

Du Plessis trudged off the field after developing serious cramps in the 44th over but by then the bulk of the damage had been done. David Miller and Farhaan Behardien flung their bats around towards the end to push the target beyond impossible.

Although the Indians have chased down 300-plus targets at home, this needed some effort. Rohit Sharma, holder of two double centuries in ODIs, departed early and Virat Kolhi too didn’t last long as the writing on the wall was clear.

Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan infused some artificial excitement but once they were dismissed, the end was near and it finally came when Amit Mishra was dismissed in the 36th over by Kagiso Rabada.