Yusuf Pathan wins hearts as SA clinch series 3-2

Centurion: Yusuf Pathan slammed a memorable counter-attacking century but was not able to steer India to victory as other Indian batsmen looked in hurry to catch flight back home, putting up a disastrous show to lose the decider fifth and final match by 33 runs as South Africa clinched the five-ODI series 3-2 here at Super Sports Park on Sunday.

Batting first, South Africa made 250/9 in their first innings but India faced a revised target of 268 runs to win by D/L method as the match was curtailed to 46-over per side due to rain intervention. But with no support from Indian top-order, India fizzled out to 234 runs in 40.2 overs to lose a historic chance to win their first-ever ODI series on South African soil.

India began their chase in the erratic fashion as no top-order batsmen including skipper MS Dhoni looked to spend time on the crease and threw their wickets. With eight wickets down for just 119 runs, India looked embracing defeat early in the match.

With all chips down and only tail-enders to support, Pathan decided to cut loose and played a gem of an innings, thumping every opposition bowler with his heavy bat.