With the series locked at 2-2, Sunday’s fifth and final ODI was supposed to have been a mouth-watering showdown between India and South Africa.
However, after the completion of one innings, South Africa had delivered a death blow to India with the Proteas smashing several records.
India have tasted some sour defeats in the past but this definitely would rank as one of their worst after folding up for 224 in 36 overs. The 214-run loss on Sunday is their second biggest loss ever in ODIs in terms of runs and the largest in their backyard.
Quinton de Kock (109), Faf du Plessis (133 retired hurt) and AB de Villiers (119, 61b, 3x4, 11x6) all cracked centuries as South Africa posted a mammoth 438/4 in their 50 overs, the highest score by any team in the country. The Proteas easily surpassed India’s score of 414 scored against Sri Lanka at Rajkot in 2009.
It was just the second time when three batsmen from the same team have scored centuries in an ODI with the South Africans themselves being the ones to accomplish it first against the West Indies this January.
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