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Du Plessis speechless after stunning run-chase in Durban ODI

October 06, 2016 15:13 IST

'Never would have thought 3-0 would have been possible against this Australian side'

South Africa's Faf du Plessis

IMAGE: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis bats during the 3rd ODI against Australia at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Wednesday. Photograph: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images

South Africa's stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis has heaped praise on his side's sensational four-wicket win over Australia in Durban, saying that he was "out of words" to describe the incredible run-chase that at one stage looked very bleak.

Chasing a daunting target of 372, South Africa lost five wickets when they were at 217 in the 32nd over before David Miller shouldered the responsibility to take the hosts home.

The swashbuckling Miller held his nerves and plundered an unbeaten 118 off just 79 balls, and, in the process, stitched a 107-run stand with Andile Phehlukwayo (42 not out) for the seventh wicket to help his side claim a unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

"To win a game like that when you're supposed to lose, when you're down and out then you have someone put their hand up and take you across the line, it's as good as it gets," du Plessis was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"I don't have any words to be honest.

"I think there's a lot of people if you asked them 3-0 to South Africa against the No. 1 team in the world, they would have possibly laughed. It just shows which direction we're going as a team at the moment, we've played some really good cricket in all formats and I'm really excited about what lies ahead.

"I'm just out of words, I'm so happy at the moment because I never would have thought 3-0 would have been possible against this Australian side."

This was the second-highest chase of all time and South Africa pulled off this feat with two matches to spare.

Source: ANI