AB de Villiers smashed a stylish century as South Africa beat a battling Zimbabwe by 28 runs in the third and final one-day international at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday to sweep the series 3-0.
De Villiers, promoted up the order to replace the injured Loots Bosman, hit six sixes and eight fours off 89 balls as South Africa powered their way to 323-9 off their 50 overs.
Albie Morkel hit 97, just missing what would have been a maiden limited overs century, but Zimbabwe will take some consolation from pushing their neighbours all the way with Tatenda Taibu, playing in his first series since ending his international exile, scoring an unbeaten 107.
Zimbabwe openers Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza put on 76 for the first wicket before Taibu cut loose.
The former skipper reached 50 off 43 balls and added a record 109 for the third wicket with Brendan Taylor (43).
Taibu added 35 with Stuart Matsikenyeri in good time but with the run rate hovering near 12 Zimbabwe eventually fell agonisingly short of the target.
Earlier, de Villiers wasted no time in setting about the Zimbabwe bowling, hitting Sean Williams for 22 in one over before thumping Prosper Utseya for three huge sixes.
Morkel fell agonisingly short of a deserved hundred when he chased a wide delivery from Masakadza and the thin edge was snapped up by Taibu.
De Villiers’s sixth six brought up his hundred from 89 balls but he fell soon after, slogging Gary Brent down to long-on for 107. — Sapa-AFP