India v South Africa, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, India v South Africa, 2015-16
Dileep Premachandran
15-Apr-2016
At Mumbai (Wankhede), October 25, 2015 (day/night). South Africa won by 214 runs. Toss: South Africa.
By the time de Villiers had scored his third century of the series, from just 57 deliveries, it was as good as over. De Kock had already helped himself to a 78-ball hundred, his fifth against India in only nine innings, and du Plessis followed suit, smashing 133 from 115 before retiring with cramp. The de Villiers assault was the final indignity for an Indian attack on a placid Wankhede Stadium pitch; Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaked 106, second only to Australian Mick Lewis's 113, on the last occasion South Africa made 438, at Johannesburg in March 2006. This, then, became the joint-thirdhighest total in one-day internationals, and the most conceded by India. The tourists also equalled their own record, set nine months earlier against West Indies at Johannesburg, of three batsmen making centuries in the same innings (de Villiers had reached three figures that day too).
By the time de Villiers had scored his third century of the series, from just 57 deliveries, it was as good as over. De Kock had already helped himself to a 78-ball hundred, his fifth against India in only nine innings, and du Plessis followed suit, smashing 133 from 115 before retiring with cramp. The de Villiers assault was the final indignity for an Indian attack on a placid Wankhede Stadium pitch; Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaked 106, second only to Australian Mick Lewis's 113, on the last occasion South Africa made 438, at Johannesburg in March 2006. This, then, became the joint-thirdhighest total in one-day internationals, and the most conceded by India. The tourists also equalled their own record, set nine months earlier against West Indies at Johannesburg, of three batsmen making centuries in the same innings (de Villiers had reached three figures that day too).
In all, 169 runs came from the last 12 overs, as de Villiers finished with 11 sixes and South Africa with 20 (only New Zealand, with 22 against West Indies at Queenstown in 2013-14, had managed more in an ODI). For a while, as Dhawan stroked a run-a-ball 60, and Rahane Catherine-wheeled his way to 87 from 58, India threatened to make a match of it. But Rabada made key incisions, and Steyn saw off Rahane to seal South Africa's biggest win over India in terms of runs (previously 157 at Durban in 2006-07). India's support staff made up for the lack of fight by getting into a war of words with the
curator, the former Test opener Sudhir Naik. The team's think tank had asked for a pitch that would take sharp turn but, once South Africa's batsmen had enjoyed their romp, team director Ravi Shastri was alleged to have said: "Well done, Sudhir, very good wicket." The sarcasm was unmistakable,
though he insisted there had been no abuse. That was the lot of his poor bowlers, as South Africa claimed the series 3-2.
Man of the Match: Q. de Kock. Man of the Series: A. B. de Villiers.
Man of the Match: Q. de Kock. Man of the Series: A. B. de Villiers.