South Africa vs India, 5th ODI at Centurion, Jan 23 2011 - Match Result

What an amazing tour we have had. Dead even in the Tests, India took the one-off T20, and SA have taken the ODIs after a scrap that went down to the wire. Lots of good cricket right through, it's been a privilege bringing you the action. Sid Ravindran's final bulletin is getting updated here, and we will have a lot of analysis and quotes from Sid Monga and Firdose Moonda later in the day. Until then, this is Nitin Sundar signing off on behalf of the team, after what's been a fantastic tour. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Smith collects the silverware. The crowd erupts, and the party will go into the night in Centurion. And then, the World Cup focus shall resume.

Smith, in his last home series as South Africa ODI captain: "Terrific to sign out with the series. Wicket wasn't easy - we thought 250-260 was a really good total. Yusuf started to middle a few and almost took it away, but we held on. We weren't as aggressive as we wanted to be when Yusuf and Zaheer were going, but otherwise we were pretty good. We have a really good chance at the World Cup. India have handled themselves very well. The crowds have been special."

Man of the series, of which Sid Monga from ESPNcricinfo is one of the adjudicators, is Morne Morkel. "Thank you very much Pretoria," he says. "Things came together for me in Durban, and since then the rhythm has been great. I'm gland we held our nerve when Yusuf was going after us."

Man of the match is Hashim Amla. "Things went well, the pitch was challenging initially. But we did well, we and van Wyk. I am glad I managed to contribute handsomely in the decider. Up and down pitch, with turn and bounce, but good pitch overall. Extremely tight series, it was a nail-biter. Good preparation for the World Cup."

MS Dhoni: "Disappointing series for the batsmen. The bowlers were getting the wickets, and getting the runs too. It was a good pitch, but we kept losing wickets. Most of us got out playing shots. Yusuf can clear most cricket fields in the world. The big learning from this game is to keep wickets in hand for the last ten overs. Conditions at the WC will be very different, but the series gave a chance to test our young batsmen. The spectators have been spectacular through the tour."

India got a lot closer than they should have today, after a really shoddy show with ball and then with bat. One man made it possible - brace yourself for several such blinders from Yusuf Pathan. He now has two 100s from mind-blowing 100s from the lower middle-order. And stop the scepticism - he can play the short ball.

Great result in the end for SA, after being 1-2 down following two of the most demoralising defeats ever. They can only get better when Kalis returns, but we need to see if Steyn and Morkel can be this effective in the subcontinent.

India's batting line-up for the World Cup will look like this - Sehwag, Tendulkar, Gambhir, Kohli / Raina, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Yusuf. Bowling line-ups around the world will shudder when they look at that list. India need Dhoni and Yuvraj to find form, and the top three to find fitness though.

Lopsy to Zaheer.

Peterson comes on.

Lopsy comes on now.