CAPE TOWN, Dec 2: Herschelle Gibbs hit a majestic 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 Sunday.

Gibbs made 119 off 101 balls as South Africa chased down New Zealand’s 238 for eight with 28 balls to spare.

Playing on his home ground, Gibbs raced to fifty off 40 balls and reached his 19th one-day international century off 77 deliveries with ten fours and six sixes.

Gibbs dominated an opening partnership of 173 with captain Graeme Smith.

New Zealand hit back after Smith was caught at deep midwicket off Vettori, with Gibbs following four overs later.

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.

Styris and Sinclair put on 49 for the fifth wicket. Sinclair then shared stands of 56 with Oram and 43 with Kyle Mills as the Black Caps reached a competitive total.

Shaun Pollock bowled economically while Andre Nel and Charl Langeveldt maintained the early pressure. Pollock conceded only 26 runs in ten overs but ended the series without a wicket.

Both Styris and Sinclair had escapes. Styris edged a no-ball from Langeveldt to wicketkeeper Boucher when he had 33 while Sinclair was dropped by Boucher off Pollock on 26.

Scoreboard

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 (lb6, nb2, w7) 15

TOTAL (for eight wkts in 50 overs) 238

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-27, 3-68, 4-79, 5-128, 6-184, 7-227, 8-234

BOWLING: Pollock 10-2-26-0 (2w), Steyn 9-0-50-2 (4w), Nel 10-0-52-1 (1w), Langeveldt 10-0-46-2 (2nb), Botha 9-0-45-1, Kallis 2-0-13-0.

DID NOT BAT: J Patel

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 (b3, lb3, nb1, w2) 9

TOTAL (for five wkts in 45.2 overs) 242

FALL OF WKTS: 1-173, 2-187, 3-190, 4-191, 5-237

BOWLING: Mills 10-0-34-1, Gillespie 7-1-58-0 (1nb, 1w), Oram 2-0-20-0, Styris 8-0-37-0 (1w), Vettori 10-1-33-3, Patel 7.2-0-54-0, Vincent 1-1-0-1.

DID NOT BAT: J Botha, A Nel, C Langeveldt, D Steyn.

UMPIRES: M Benson (ENG), I Howell (RSA).

TV UMPIRE: M Erasmus (RSA).

MATCH REFEREE: J Srinath (India).—AFP