Centurion: India failed to redeem their pride in the fifth and final cricket one-day international and were thrashed comprehensively by nine wickets by South Africa who completed a 4-0 series whitewash here yesterday (Dec 3, 2006).

The Indians were outplayed by South Africa who restricted the visitors to 200 for 9 on an easy-paced track before overhauling the target in just 31.2 overs at the Supersport Park.

AB de Villiers, promoted to open for the first time in the series, remained unbeaten on 92 while skipper Graeme Smith finally struck form to score 79, making a complete mockery of the Indian bowling.

The show of these two batsmen overshadowed the efforts of Sachin Tendulkar who laboured to a 97-ball 55 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (44) who ensured India touched the 200-run mark for the first time in the series.

The comprehensive win in the fifth and final match of the series, the first tie of which was washed out, means South Africa would go into the three-Test series, starting on December 15, with their confidence sky high.

Also boosting their morale would be the fact that all their four wins were facile with the victory margins being 157, 106 and 80 runs before today's humiliation.

Shaun Pollock, for his brilliant bowling in the match and throughout the series  a haul of 10 wickets at a very low cost  was named both man of the match and the series.