South Africa clinched the ODI series with a five-wicket victory in the fifth match in Newlands, Cape Town on Sunday. Chasing 237 for the win, skipper AB de Villiers led from the front with a strokeful 101 from 97 balls. So, contrary to their chokers' tag, the Proteas came down form being 0-2 to win the series 3-2, only the fourth time this feat has been achieved.
Chasing a gettable target of 237, South Africa reached 207 for five after 40 overs. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers steadied the ship for the Proteas, who were stuttering at 22 for 3 after 8 overs. Amla was dismissed for 59 in the 30th over, stumped off Moeen Ali. de Villiers' run-a-ball 87 has taken Proteas on the cusp of a series victory, needing only 37 runs from the last 10 overs.
Earlier, Alex Hales hit a century while the rest of his England teammates struggled in the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday. Opener Hales made 112 in an England total of 236 all out after the tourists were sent in to bat in the series decider.
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De Villiers is the new man. A significant milestone for the SA captain today. Congratulations! >#ProteaFire>pic.twitter.com/wgiWPtKNBL
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) >February 14, 2016
His second ODI century capped a fine series for the tall Hales, who had made fifties in each of the previous four matches, including an innings of 99 in the second game in Port Elizabeth. He finished the series with 383 runs at an average of 76.60. Hales had minimal support from the rest of the England batsmen, however, with Joe Root (27) and Ben Stokes (29) the only others to reach 20.
Hales and Root put on 61 for the second wicket - their fifth successive partnership of 50 or more - before Root was trapped leg before wicket by leg-spinner Imran Tahir. Root made 351 runs in the series at an average of 70.20.
Tahir took the first two wickets, dismissing Jason Roy leg before after being brought on in the fifth over, and finishing off the innings by having Stuart Broad caught at mid-off. Tahir took three for 53.
Kagiso Rabada and David Wiese also took three wickets each, for 34 and 50 runs respectively. South African captain AB de Villiers sent England in to bat after early morning rain but although it was slow, the pitch did not appear to help the bowlers unduly.
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