AB De Villiers hit his fifth one-day international century in a year in which he has maintained an average above 100. —AFP Photo

It was the second biggest winning runs margin in one-day international history, exceeded only by New Zealand’s 290-run win against Ireland in Aberdeen in 2008.

“We’ve steadily improved through the series,” said South African captain Graeme Smith, who said the performance of the bowlers on Friday was particularly heartening ahead of South Africa’s tour to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The South African team depart on Sunday and play the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The tour also includes five one-day internationals and two Test matches.

Duminy (129) and De Villiers (109) shared a record South African one-day international third wicket partnership of 219 off 190 balls as the home side again put the Zimbabwe bowlers to the sword.

It was the second successive hundred by man of the series De Villiers and the third time in three matches that two South African batsmen hit centuries in the same innings.

Duminy, who was named man of the match, benefited from a policy of rotating batsmen in the number three position, joining Colin Ingram and De Villiers in reaching three figures after coming in at first wicket down.

For Duminy it continued a promising start to a new campaign after a disappointing 2009/10 season. When he mistimed an attempted big hit to mid-off it was the first time in two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day games against Zimbabwe that he had been dismissed after racking up a total of 281 runs.

De Villiers hit his fifth one-day international century in a year in which he has maintained an average above 100.

Although Zimbabwe’s bowlers had taken a pasting from the South African batsmen, the visiting team’s batsmen performed well in the first two matches.

But they were swept away on Friday after opening batsmen Brendan Taylor and

Hamilton Masakadza were dismissed within the first five overs.

Rusty Theron, the leading wicket-taker in his first series, finished with three for 18, while Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Johan Botha took two wickets each.

“We were outplayed today,” said Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura.

“We can take heart from our batting apart from today but we have to work hard on our bowling.”