Proteas thump India, win series

Amla becomes fastest to reach 6000, S Africa's 438/4 highest innings total on Indian soil

De Kock, du Plessis set it up, de Villiers (61-ball 119) loads it up

Mumbai, Oct 25: Powered by centuries each from Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock, South Africa registered a mammoth 214-run win over a spiritless India in the fifth and fil One-Day Intertiol (ODI) match at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday to clinch the series 3-2.

Fighting the heat and humidity, du Plessis struck 133 off 115 balls, de Villiers smashed 119 off 61, and opener de Kock hit 109 off 87 balls to put the visitors in the driving seat in the crucial contest with a massive score of 438/4 in 50 overs.

In reply, despite a fighting 58-ball 87 from local batsman Ajinkya Rahane and 59-ball 60 from Shikhar Dhawan, the hosts were bowled out for 224 in 35.5 overs.

For the visitors, young pacer Kagiso Rabada (4-41) and experienced seamer Dale Steyn (3-38) were the pick of the bowlers.

Chasing a mammoth target of 439, India got off to a modest start with openers Dhawan and local boy Rohit Sharma in good touch. Playing his first ODI in his home ground, Rohit struck three boundaries before giving his wicket away to Kyle Abbott in the fifth over.

Earlier in the day, opting to bat first, the Proteas started their proceedings on an aggressive note with de Kock and partner Amla (23) handling the Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar and Mohit Sharma comfortably on the batting friendly wicket.

Du Plessis, who has three fifties in the past four matches, and de Kock made it look too easy as they simply toyed with the Indian medium pacers and the three spinners -- Harbhajan, Amit Mishra and Axar.

Du Plessis and de Villiers brought up their 250 in the 36th over as the latter took only 34 balls to reach his fifty.

Their fluent batting brought up the 100-run partnership for the third wicket in 77 balls.

Even though du Plessis was struggling with cramps and was uble to run quickly between the wicket, he made it up by hitting big shots after his century.

After he went back to the pavilion retired hurt, an 164 run-partnership for the third wicket ended.

David Miller (22 off 12) punched some powerful shots later in the innings to put up the highest ODI score by any team at this stadium, the previous being 358/8 made by New Zealand against Cada in 2011. IANS