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South Africa Claim Series With Big Win

by John Pennington Wednesday 21 January 2015

Faf du Plessis (right) hit five fours during his half-century

©REUTERS / Action Images

South Africa 124-1 (Amla 61no) beat
West Indies 122 (Imran Tahir 4-28) by nine wickets
Third One-Day International, East London
Scorecard

South Africa thrashed the West Indies by nine wickets in the third One-Day International in East London to move into an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

Imran Tahir took four wickets, Vernon Philander three and Dale Steyn two as the tourists were rolled for 122 in 33.4 overs.

After losing Rilee Rossouw for seven, South Africa eased home thanks to Hashim Amla's unbeaten 61 and Faf du Plessis making 51 not out.

They reached their target in 24.4 overs to go 3-0 up with two games remaining.

Marlon Samuels top scored with 26 during the West Indian innings which never gained any sort of momentum.

Leg-spinner Tahir grabbed four for 28 after Philander (3-27) and Steyn (2-21) had struck early blows with big hitters Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith out for one and five respectively.

Narsingh Deonarine (10), Jonathan Carter (18), Andre Russell (16), Jason Holder (17 not out) and Sulieman Benn (18) reached double figures with Holder and Benn adding a defiant 26 for the final wicket after they had been reduced to 96 for nine.

Morne Morkel (1-26) was the other wicket-taker.

Holder then had Rossouw caught by Deonarine as South Africa slipped to 27 for one but thereafter it was plain sailing for them.

Amla struck 61 in 63 balls - his 27th half-century - and du Plessis reached his 12th half-century shortly before Amla hit the winning runs.

Du Plessis faced 71 balls.