BENONI, South Africa: J.P. Duminy and AB de Villiers hit centuries as South Africa's batsmen went on the rampage in the third and final One-Day International against Zimbabwe at Willowmoore Park Friday. South Africa gained a crushing 272-run win, hammering 399 for six before bowling out Zimbabwe for 127 to seal the series 3-0. 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 Friday was particularly heartening ahead of South Africa's tour to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. The South African team departs Sunday and plays the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Abu Dhabi Tuesday. The tour also includes five ODIs and two Test matches. Duminy (129) and De Villiers (109) shared a record South African ODI 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 No. 3 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 ODI 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 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.” – Associated PressScoreboard South Africa Smith st Taibu b Utseya 26 Amla c Taibu b S. Masakadza 24 Duminy c Dabengwa b Nicolson 129 De Villiers c S. Masakadza b H. Masakadza 109 Morkel c Taylor b S. Masakadza 37 Miller not out 33 Ingram c Cremer b Chigumbura 20 Botha not out 00 Extras (b1, lb7, nb2, w11) 21 Total (for 6, 50 overs) 399 Falls: 1-53 (Smith), 2-59 (Amla), 3-278 (De Villiers), 4-328 (Duminy), 5-355 (Morkel), 6-392 (Ingram). Did not bat: W. Parnell, J. Theron, L. Tsotsobe. Bowling: S. Masakadza 10-0-95-2 (3w), Nicolson 7-0-74-1 (2nb), Utseya 10-0-58-1 (1w), Dabengwa 6-0-40-0 (1w), Cremer 5-0-37-0, Chibhabha 3-0-20-0, Chigumbura 7-0-53-1 (2w), H. Masakadza 1-0-4-1, Taylor 1-0-10-0. Zimbabwe Taylor c Theron b Tsotsobe 05 H. Masakadza c Theron b Morkel 05 Chibhabha c Amla b Morkel 16 Taibu b Botha 28 Ervine b Botha 24 Chigumbura b Theron 01 Dabengwa lbw b Parnell 06 Utseya not out 24 Cremer c Amla b Parnell 02 S. Masakadza b Theron 14 Nicolson c De Villiers b Theron 00 Extras (w2) 02 Total (29 overs) 127 Falls: 1-9 (Taylor), 2-18 (H. Masakadza), 3-30 (Chibhabha), 4-77 (Taibu), 5-80 (Ervine), 6-80 (Chigumbura), 7-97 (Dabengwa), 8-106 (Cremer), 9-127 (S. Masakadza). Bowling: Morkel 5-0-35-2, Tsotsobe 4-0-12-1 (1w), Parnell 7-0-30-2, Theron 6-0-18-3, Botha 7-0-32-2 (1w). Man of match: JP Duminy. Man of series: AB de Villiers. __
