Faf du Plessis' first, Quinton de Kock's second and AB de Villiers' third centuries of the series saw South Africa soar to the highest total of the five matches so far and the highest ever in India. The trio of triple-figures, only the second time that has been done in an ODI, meant every Indian bowler was punished on a surface that did not offer much bounce or turn but gave South Africa their second ODI score of 438.

The last time they notched up that number was nine years ago, at the Wanderers against Australia, when they chased successfully. Since then, South Africa have scored over 400 five more times, four in 2015 alone.

In this innings, their aggression was applied in waves with de Kock, then du Plessis and then de Villiers attacking one at a time, and putting on two century stands between them, against an Indian attack that began with an over-reliance on the short ball and then ran out of ideas. They have never conceded more runs in an ODI and have never scored more than 362 while chasing.

South Africa showed signs of authority from the start. They raced to 33 off the first four overs, during which Hashim Amla became the fastest batsmen to 6,000 ODI runs, but perished going for a cut shot to end the series in the same patchy form he began. That problem did not plague anyone else.

(espncricinfo)