Herschelle Gibbs hit a fine century as South Africa cruised to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Newlands on Sunday.
Gibbs made 119 off 101 balls as South Africa chased down New Zealand's 238 for eight with 28 balls to spare to win the series 2-1.
Playing on his home ground, Gibbs raced to fifty off 40 balls and reached his 19th one-day international century off 77 deliveries with 10 fours and six sixes.
Gibbs took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers from the start, hitting two boundaries in each of Mark Gillespie's first two overs, then lifting Kyle Mills for a straight six. Gillespie was replaced by Jacob Oram and Gibbs hit his first ball for another six.
Gibbs slowed down after reaching his century but there was one more six before he top-edged a sweep against New Zealand captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to be caught at deep midwicket.
Gibbs dominated an opening partnership of 173 with captain Graeme Smith. When he reached his century, the total was 136 and Smith was on 29.
While Gibbs made batting look ridiculously easy, Smith battled his way to 51, surviving chances on 23 and 44. Smith was playing despite a scan which showed he had an enlarged spleen after contracting a virus on a tour of Pakistan in October.
New Zealand hit back after Smith was caught at deep midwicket off Vettori, with Gibbs following four overs later, to be followed quickly by AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.
Four wickets fell for 18 runs. Vettori was mainly responsible for the slump, taking three for 33.
Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher steadied the South African innings, putting on 46 before Kallis chased a wide ball and was caught behind off part-time bowler Lou Vincent with only two needed to win.
New Zealand struggled early in their innings after winning the toss.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn, playing in his first match of the series, dismissed both opening batsmen cheaply and were 79 for four after 22 overs before Scott Styris (60) and Mathew Sinclair (73) led a recovery.
Score card:
New Zealand:
L Vincent b Steyn 18
B McCullum c Gibbs b Steyn 0
J How lbw b Langeveldt 15
S Styris c Nel b Botha 60
R Taylor b Nel 3
M Sinclair run out (Steyn) 73
J Oram c Smith b Langeveldt 34
K Mills run out (Langeveldt) 11
D Vettori not out 9
M Gillespie not out 0
Extras: (lb-6, nb-2, w-7) 15
Total: (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) 238
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-27, 3-68, 4-79, 5-128, 6-184, 7-227, 8-234
Bowling: Pollock 10-2-26-0, Steyn 9-0-50-2, Nel 10-0-52-1, Langeveldt 10-0-46-2, Botha 9-0-45-1, Kallis 2-0-13-0
South Africa:
G Smith c Gillespie b Vettori 51
H Gibbs c Mills b Vettori 119
J Kallis c McCullum b Vincent 30
A de Villiers c Sinclair b Mills 2
J Duminy c McCullum b Vettori 1
M Boucher not out 26
S Pollock not out 4
Extras: (b-3, lb-3, nb-1, w-2) 9
Total: (for 5 wkts in 45.2 overs) 242
Fall of wickets: 1-173, 2-187, 3-190, 4-191, 5-237
Bowling: Mills 10-0-34-1, Gillespie 7-1-58-0, Oram 2-0-20-0, Styris 8-0-37-0, Vettori 10-1-33-3, Patel 7.2-0-54-0, Vincent 1-1-0-1
