Hit by 3D power

26 October 2015 - 02:15 By Telford Vice

South Africa pummelled India with a slew of centuries at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday, and all three of the heavy-hitters celebrated in their own unique way. On his way to his 100, Quinton de Kock paused mid-pitch to brandish his bat, then he punched the air. Then he punched the air again. Only then did he complete his run to the wicket to seal his century.Said De Kock in a television interview during the innings break: "Even now, I don't know what I did. I didn't mean to do it but it happened."Faf du Plessis tried a similar trick, leaping high and throwing an air punch to celebrate his impending century. But his legs cramped and he had to limp to his hundred.AB de Villiers celebrated his hundred by smacking his chest with his bat and roaring: "Come on!"The stands roared back: "ABD! ABD! ABD!"These are just a smattering of the memories that will stick in South Africans' hearts and minds from the fifth ODI against India.De Kock, Du Plessis and De Villiers were extra special yesterday, scoring 109, 133 and 119 respectively. South Africa won by 214 runs to clinch their first bilateral series in this format in India 3-2 .De Kock took 74 of his runs in boundaries and reached three figures off 78 balls.Du Plessis was repeatedly poleaxed by muscular cramps. Once, as he lay flat on his back on the pitch, MS Dhoni came from behind the stumps to help stretch his hamstrings.Up in the commentary box, Graeme Smith joked: "Are there snipers on the roof?"There were three overs in which De Villiers hit two sixes apiece. He hit 50 off 34 balls and 100 off 59. He made the impossible possible, but as De Kock noted, the spectacular was becoming a routine thing.He said: "It's becoming a normal thing now for AB. He doesn't even celebrate anymore. It's just bat up and thank you."De Kock and Du Plessis added 154 before Du Plessis and De Villiers put on 164. They were parted when Du Plessis finally retired hurt.But he went out with a bang."I've got nothing left," Du Plessis said to his captain as his muscles convulsed."You can still hit sixes," came an unmoved De Villiers' reply.So Du Plessis stood and delivered four sixes and two fours off the last 10 balls he faced.Then De Villiers took over in a stand of 79 in which Farhaan Behardien had the opportunity to score just 16 as SA closed on 438/4.India were dismissed for 224 in 36 overs...

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