Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa posted a massive 438-4 in the final ODI against India in Mumbai on Sunday.

All the talk will focus on De Villiers’ 119 off 61 deliveries, but it would be unfair to downplay the superb innings of De Kock (109 off 87) and Du Plessis (133 off 115). Du Plessis retired hurt due to severe cramp but played some eye-catching shots towards the end when he could hardly walk.

Together with De Kock they laid the platform for De Villiers to play what has become his trademark innings, pacing his innings nicely before going into AB mode and smashing the opposition bowlers into submission.

It’s always a massive score when three batsmen score hundreds in the same innings, and this was only the second time that has ever happened.

De Villiers now has the most hundreds (8) by any player off 75 balls or less. It was his 23rd ODI hundred, the most by any South African, and second of the series.

India didn’t help their cause with a poor effort in the field. They dropped four catches including Du Plessis twice, while there was also some average bowling towards the end which made their life harder.

This is obviously a great batting pitch so the South African shouldn’t get carried away, but India will have to bat exceptionally well to chase this down and win the series.

Scorecard.

Picture: Associated Press