Inspite of blasting a 61-ball 119 in the fifth and final ODI against India, South African skipper AB De Villiers has played down his effort in comparison to
teammate Faf du Plessis's more sedate 133, saying the knock helped other batsmen free up.
"Faf did not get enough credit for his knock. He came in at a very difficult situation, in the middle of the innings, when Indian spinners started dominating a bit. He controlled the innings exceptionally very well.
"It allowed (third centurion in innings) Quinton (de Kock) and me to, sort of, free up," said de Villiers in the post-match conference at the Wankhede Stadium.
"You could see both of us scored at faster than run-a-ball hundred and that was because of Faf's stability at the other end. He was getting really tired throughout his innings and to show that kind of determination to anchor the innings, which is not easy, was incredible and makes it probably the most important of the three (centuries)," said the visiting team captain after his team thrashed India by 214 runs to sew up the best-of-five series 3-2.
'It's definitely the biggest and best game I have captained'
South Africa piggy-backed on the trio of tons to aggregate a sky-high score of 438 for four and then bundled out the hosts for a paltry 224 in 36 overs to create history by winning their first-ever bilateral ODI series in the country.
In the context of what was achieved, de Villiers rated the game as his best as captain.
"It was obviously a huge game, final and history on line. With that regard it's definitely the biggest game and the best game I have captained. It was a complete performance with the bat and ball and I am very proud of the boys," he said.
Apart from the batting might, the visitors' fast bowling duo – spearhead Dale Steyn and rising pacer Kagiso Rabada – cut a scythe through the Indian batting to pick up 3 for 38 and 4 for 41 respectively.
