J.P. Duminy and A.B. de Villiers hit centuries as South Africa’s batsmen went on the rampage in the third and final one-day international against Zimbabwe at Willowmoore Park on Friday.
South Africa gained a crushing 272-run win, hammering 399 for six before bowling out Zimbabwe for 127 to seal the series 3-0.
It was the second-biggest winning runs margin in one-day international history, exceeded only by New Zealand’s 290-run win against Ireland in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 2008.
PHOTO: AFP
“We’ve steadily improved through the series,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who said the performance of the bowlers on Friday was particularly heartening ahead of South Africa’s tour to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
The Proteas depart today and play the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The tour also includes five one-day internationals and two Test matches.
Duminy (129) and de Villiers (109) shared a record South Africa one-day international third-wicket partnership of 219 off 190 balls as the home side again put the Zimbabwe bowlers to the sword.
It was the second successive century by man of the series de Villiers and the third time in three matches that two South Africa batsmen hit centuries in the same innings.
Duminy, who was named man of the match, benefited from a policy of rotating batsmen in the No. 3 position, joining Colin Ingram and de Villiers in reaching three figures after coming in at first wicket down.
For Duminy, it continued a promising start to a new campaign after a disappointing 2009-2010 season.
When he mistimed an attempted big hit to mid-off it was the first time in two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day games against Zimbabwe that he had been dismissed after racking up a total of 281 runs.
De Villiers hit his fifth one-day international century in a year in which he has maintained an average above 100.
Although Zimbabwe’s bowlers had taken a pasting from the South Africa batsmen, the visiting team’s batsmen performed well in the first two matches, but they were swept away on Friday after openers Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza were dismissed within the first five overs.
Rusty Theron, the leading wicket-taker in his first series, finished with three for 18, while Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Johan Botha took two wickets each.
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