Durban – Proteas cricket captain AB de Villiers admitted winning a one-day series against world number India was among the highlights of his career as skipper.
“Keeping in mind we're playing at home and we should be beating most of the sub-continent countries here, it is definitely a highlight for me,” De Villiers said after Sunday's second One-Day International (ODI) victory against India in Durban.
“It's still big for us. India won the Champions Trophy in England where the conditions were very similar to ours in South Africa. So it's definitely a good win.”
The Proteas thrashed their Indian counterparts by 134 runs at Kingsmead to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series which ends in Pretoria on Wednesday.
De Villiers, who had been in charge of the limited-overs side since June 2011, felt the series result was waiting to happen after a lot of hard work.
“We've been going through some tough times in the last two years with our ODI cricket. We've been trying to build a team and that's exactly what's happened.
“We've been sticking with the same guys and we're really enjoying our cricket. We're enjoying each others company and successes, which is a sign of a team on the right track.
“The results are finally coming through even though we're nowhere near where we want to be yet. But definitely beating the number one team in the world is something we can be proud of.”
The win was set up by centuries from openers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla, followed by four wickets from seam bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Rising young star De Kock made 106 from 118 balls, his third career hundred and second successive one following his 135 at the Wanderers last Thursday. Amla made exactly 100 in 117 deliveries as South Africa amassed 280 for six in what was a 49-over contest after a wet outfield delayed the start.
Tsotsobe then took four for 25 and Dale Steyn claimed three for 17 to blow the tourists away for a poor 146 in 35.1 overs.
“Hash and Quinny have been giving us good starts and they did that again in this match,” De Villiers said.
“I was also pleased by the way the middle and lower order finished things off.
“With the runs on the board, it gave the bowlers some real freedom to express their talents. So it was a very satisfying win.”
De Villiers said that winning seven out of the last 10 ODIs meant they were certainly on the right track when it comes to consistency. – Sapa