IND vs SA, 5th ODI: 'Dude' show kills Team India, Proteas bag ODI series 3-2

Mumbai: The 'dude' show starring Faf 'du' Plessis, Quinton 'de' Kock and AB 'de' Villiers broke India’s back and powered South Africa to their first ever bilateral ODI series win in India here on Sunday. After electing to bat in the fifth and final ODI of the series, South Africa amassed 438 runs – highest total at Wankhede overtaking New Zealand’s 358 against Canada in World Cup 2011 - and defeated India by a whopping margin of 214 runs.

Barring the exception of Ajinkya Rahane, who remained India’s sole firefighter with his attractive 87-run knock, India failed to put up any fight in the lop-sided encounter.

India, who needed a miracle to chase down a mammoth total, lost in-form Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first ten overs. While Rahane and Dhawan (60) stringed a 100-run partnership, that was never going to be enough in a game where India needed all their batsmen to fire.

For South Africa Dale Steyn, who could not offer much with the ball in the series before this game, scalped three wickets. Kagiso Rabada, the find of this series and a player to watch out for in the future, accounted for four Indian wickets.

Earlier, South Africa made two changes to their line-up. Kyle Abbott and Dean Elgar replaced JP Duminy and Aaron Phangiso. On the other hand, India retained the same team that played in Chennai.

Electing to bat on a wicket that provided nothing but agony to the bowlers, Kock and Hashim Amla were on song. The pocket-sized de Kock once again proved his grit on the Indian soil. The wicketkeeper-batsman – who was axed for a string of failures earlier this year – slammed his second ton of the series.

While de Kock started cautiously, he did not allow India to take advantage following Amla’s dismissal in the fourth over by Mohit Sharma.

Although Harbhajan troubled him for a while, Kock did not let that hamper his confidence and sent the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt on a hot afternoon in Mumbai.

Mixing power with touch play, the diminutive southpaw brought up his fifth ODI ton against India before a lofted shot off Suresh Raina ended his script abruptly.

Even though the opener was out, South Africa were cruising with AB and Miller still to bat. With the run rate being close to 10, a massive score was in the pipeline.

The stage looked perfect for the visitors when South Africa crossed the 250-run mark with the duo of Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers going strong.

In the 37th over, India had a chance to dismiss du Plessis but Amit Mishra dropped him at the point region.

Meanwhile, AB continued his superb run of form bringing up yet another fifty. The duo completed hundred-run partnership in 77 balls as South Africa threatened to go well past 350-run mark.

The scenario turned grim for India as du Plessis launched into attack mode after completing his hundred. South Africa’s T20 skipper was troubled by cramps and had to leave the field retired hurt but not before he went berserk after crossing three-figure mark.

Although du Plessis left the field, AB continued his domination over Indian bowlers and scored his third ton of the series.

Termed as one of the best batsmen of modern era, he thumped 119 off 61 balls with 11 sixes and three fours before falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 47th over of the innings.

David Miller, who had struggled in the series ahead of this game, added salt to India’s wounds by scoring quick-fire 22 off 12 balls.