Proteas seal series in style

Gibbs slams 21st one-day century to help hosts triumph in PE

Fourth One Day International
Port Elizabeth
South Africa 317-6 (H H Gibbs 110, A B de Villiers 84) v Australia 256 (B J Haddin 78, R T Ponting 53, M J Clarke 50, D W Steyn 4-44)
South Africa beat Australia by 61 runs

Herschelle Gibbs hit his first one-day ton since February 2008 to help South Africa clinch the series against Australia with a 61-run win in Port Elizabeth.

The opener hammered nine fours and two sixes in his innings of 110 that was the bed rock for the Proteas massive total of 317-6.

AB de Villiers made 84 as he and Gibbs shared in a 136-run stand before JP Duminy added some late fireworks with 40 off 25 balls.

Early platform

Australia did their best to keep pace in their reply, Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke laying the platform with an opening partnership of 129.

However, the two set batsmen fell in the space of three overs and despite a battling half-century from skipper Ricky Ponting, Australia folded to 256 all out.

Dale Steyn polished off the tail in a hurry to finish with figures of 4-44, though it was South Africa's spinners that once again did the crucial damage.

Johan Botha removed Haddin, who made 78 off just 61 deliveries, before Roelof van der Merwe (3-46) produced a crucial spell.

The left-arm spinner bowled Clarke for an even 50 and then dismissed Callum Ferguson and Mike Hussey in quick succession to leave the tourists reeling on 151-4.

Steyn returned to the attack to get rid of David Hussey (20) and when Ponting was caught by Albie Morkel, the writing was on the wall.

Gibbs had earlier put South Africa in a superb position in the fourth match of the series at St George's Park as he rolled back the years with a superb ton.

Onslaught

The opener overcame the early losses of skipper Graeme Smith for 20 and Jacques Kallis, who made 17, to reach three figures in ODI action for the 21st time in his career. He was eventually dismissed by Nathan Bracken.

De Villiers played his part in the onslaught, smashing six fours and three sixes in his 74-ball knock before skying Mitchell Johnson high enough into the air for Ferguson to move around from mid-wicket and catch.

Debutant Shane Harwood was the pick of the Australian attack, though, Duminy his second victim as he claimed 2-57 from his 10-over spell.

South Africa's win gives them an unassailable 3-1 series lead with just the fifth match - which takes place at Johannesburg on Friday - to come.