South Africa End Tour Of India With Thumping Win

Unbeaten centuries from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers helped set upa a 90-run win for South Africa over India in the third and final One-Day International in Ahmedabad.

De Villiers had also stroked a superb century in the second match but was overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar's double-century but on this occasion his efforts were rewarded with a convincing win.

AB de Villiers celebrates his century. Image credit: REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe. Supplied by Action Images

South Africa batted with aggression throughout their innings, Loots Bosman (68 in 46 balls) and Hashim Amla (87 in 108) also scoring half-centuries.

Kallis was unbeaten on 104 in 94 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes but de Villiers was more belligerent, thumping 11 fours and five sixes, facing just 59 balls for his 102 runs.

Spinners Yusuf Pathan and Ravi Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece as the Indian seamers had a difficult day, debutant Abhimanyu Mithun one of three quicks to leak runs at more than seven runs per over.

In contrast, South Africa's quick bowlers had a much better day, both Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe grabbing three wickets as India were bowled out for 275.

Openers Dinesh Karthik (11) and Murali Vijay Krishna (25) fell early but Virat Kohli's 57 and Rohit Sharma's 48 kept India's hopes of chasing down 366 alive.

South Africa hit back, off-spinner Johan Botha striking to dismiss Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina (49) to leave India under severe pressure at 233 for seven.

Mahendra SIngh Dhoni (9) had earlier become Steyn's third wicket and india then lacked the experience to get them close, and despite enterprising efforts of 36 from Jadeja and 24 from Mithun, South Africa were barely headed.

Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe ended the match by dismissing Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (1) and Mithun.

India take the series 2-1.

© Cricket World 2010

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