Cricket South Africa media release:

National coach Mickey Arthur promised that Herschelle Gibbs would play a match-winning innings  for the Proteas before the MTN ODI series against Australia was done and his prediction proved to be totally accurate as the Standard Bank ODI squad clinched the series at Sahara Oval St. George’s on Monday by 61 runs with a game still to be played.

The Proteas now travel to the Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium for the final encounter on Friday with an unassailable 3-1 lead and the chance to match the 4-1 series win they achieved in Australia earlier this year.

This result confirms the Proteas as the No. 1 ranked side in the world, a position they achieved when they won the series in Australia.

Monday’s match was a personal triumph for Gibbs who scored his 21st ODI century – a South African record – and for good measure took a catch as well for his 106th catch in this format of the international game. This gives him outright possession of the South African record, a mark he previously held jointly with Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes on 105.

It was an emotional day for Gibbs who scored his first century for South Africa in more than a year. The tears streamed down his face after he reached the mark. “I could hardly see the next ball from Shane Harwood,” he commented.

“I feel I have been boiling for some time,” he added, “ probably since the third ODI at Sydney. “I have probably wanted it too badly which is why it did not come sooner. I knew if I got through the first 15 to 20 overs that I could go all the way.

“It was an excellent pitch and the grounds staff deserves credit as well for this outstanding match.”

Gibbs and AB de Villiers, who just missed out to Gibbs for the MTN man of the match award, set up South Africa’s total of 317/6 with a third wicket partnership of 136 in 21 overs. Gibbs reached his 100 off 106 balls with eight fours and two sixes and finished on 110 off 116 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

De Villiers had the slightly more impressive statistics with 84 off 74 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Once they were dismissed there was a brief lull before JP Duminy and Mark Boucher finished strongly, putting on 65 runs in the last seven overs. Duminy, dismissed off the last ball for 40, faced only 25 balls (four fours).

Australia made a brave reply with Brad Haddin (78 off 61 balls with seven fours and four sixes) and Michael Clarke putting on 129 in little more than 20 overs but, once the Proteas’ spin twins broke through, the match swung dramatically in South Africa’s favour.

Johan Botha, who claimed the key wicket of Haddin, and Roelof van der Merwe (3/46) took 4/94 between them in 20 overs.

Dale Steyn (4/44) cleaned up the lower order and Australia lost all 10 wickets for 127 runs starting with the dismissal of Haddin to be well beaten at the end.