AB de Villiers was the star man as South Africa wrapped up a 2-1 series triumph over New Zealand with a 62-run win in the third and final one-day international in Durban on Wednesday.
Proteas captain De Villiers top-scored with a knock of 64 - during which he became the fastest batsman ever to reach 8,000 ODI runs - as his side made 283 for seven after winning the toss and opting to bat.
There were also fine contributions at the crease from Morne van Wyk (58) and Hashim Amla (44), before New Zealand were bowled out for 221, David Wiese taking three for 58 and Tom Latham putting up the greatest resistance for the Black Caps with 54.
The outcome sees the home side replace their opponents at third in the ODI rankings and will be viewed as a revenge of sorts for South Africa after they endured World Cup semi-final heartbreak at the hands of New Zealand in March, losing on the penultimate ball.
They made a steady start on Wednesday, although were grateful for Van Wyk being dropped by Doug Bracewell in the ninth over - the first of several such instances in the match.
Openers Van Wyk and Amla guided the hosts safely to 89 before the latter was removed, and Rilee Rossouw (six) swiftly followed.
Van Wyk was subsequently dismissed to leave South Africa on 134 for three, but De Villiers - having already by that point reached his historic 8,000-run landmark - then steadied things with David Miller.
The pair added a further 86 runs between them before De Villiers was bowled by Bracewell, departing with his 64 having come off 48 balls and featured eight fours and a six.
Miller was next to go for 36 and the innings concluded with Ben Wheeler taking the scalps of Wiese (12) - another man to have been dropped - and Farhaan Behardien (40), the New Zealander finishing with figures of three for 71.
The Black Caps stumbled early on in their response as Dale Steyn saw off Martin Guptill for 10, and Kane Williamson survived two nervy moments as he was dropped by both Miller and Kagiso Rabada.
Williamson's efforts did help New Zealand to 102 without further loss, at which point he was bowled by Imran Tahir.
South Africa kept up the pressure thereafter as Latham was run out by Miller, and George Worker (21) and Grant Elliott (20) - soon after being the latest man dropped - were ousted by Wiese.
That was 152 for five in the 34th over and the Proteas went on to complete the job, with only Colin Munro, before becoming Wiese's final victim, offering much (35) among the rest of the New Zealand order, which also included Luke Ronchi, Bracewell, Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi, whose dismissal came off the final ball.
Source: PA
