"It's a wonderful feeling to have created some history," said Indian captain Virat Kohli, who praised what he described as a "complete performance" by his team. "The guys really got stuck in, with the bat and the ball and in the field as well." South Africa's chances of overhauling India's 274 for seven plummeted when they lost their first three wickets inside the first 13 overs. Hardik Pandya struck crucial blows by dismissing JP Duminy and AB de Villiers.India seal the series win! Kuldeep Yadav cleans up South Africa's lower to secure a 73 run victory in Port Elizabeth and take a 4-1 lead with one match to play! It's India's first ODI series win in South Africa!#SAvIND scorecard ➡️ https://t.co/BYzPafrycQ pic.twitter.com/FyV0tjHHPE
— ICC (@ICC) February 13, 2018
Hashim Amla played a measured innings of 71 and shared partnerships of 62 with David Miller and 39 with Heinrich Klaasen. He was run out by a direct hit from Pandya, effectively ending the home team's hopes. Indian wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were effective on a slow pitch, taking four and two wickets respectively. "Our batting wasn't up to scratch," said South African captain Aiden Markram. "We lost wickets in clumps. But we have to give credit to India, they're playing incredibly well."It's all over here at St Georges as SA is bowled out for 201. India win by 73 runs. #SAvIND #MomentumODI pic.twitter.com/5pZGSZjNnn
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 13, 2018
Sharma's 17th one-day international century ended a run of low scores in South Africa. In 19 previous innings across both Tests and one-day internationals, his previous highest score was 47 and he had scored only 249 runs at an average of 13.11. He said he had ensured that he stayed in a good frame of mind despite not making big scores. "I have been enjoying South Africa. It's a good place to play cricket. I knew I didn't have to change a lot and the runs would come," he said.VIDEO: In a kind of firsts, Man of the moment - @ImRo45 did a quick selfie interview for https://t.co/Z3MPyeKtDz with captain @imVkohli post India's first series win in South Africa. Listen in to what the duo had to say about the historical moment.https://t.co/UE7ofNQMid#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/TY2Ik1Tmha
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2018
With the series won, using only 12 of India's 17-man squad, Kohli said: "We want to win 5-1 but there might be a scenario to give a few (other) guys a chance." Although he was the mainstay of the innings, Sharma was at least partially complicit in two run-outs, both of which happened after he sent his batting partner back.His 17th ODI century that guided India to a victory that sealed their first ODI series win in South Africa nets @ImRo45 the 5th ODI Player of the Match Award! #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/vLIxOB75Sl
— ICC (@ICC) February 13, 2018
The first run-out accounted for captain Virat Kohli, who made 36 –- his lowest score of the series -– in a second wicket stand of 105 with Sharma. Kohli called Sharma through for a risky single, then could not beat JP Duminy's direct hit at the bowler's end.India secured a historic ODI series win in South Africa led by the efforts of Rohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav in Port Elizabeth.#SAvIND REPORT ➡️ https://t.co/qpcoL607wg pic.twitter.com/2P3tu4Lg3y
— ICC (@ICC) February 14, 2018
Ajinkya Rahane was the second run-out victim, playing a ball to mid-on and almost reaching the other end of the pitch before realizing Sharma was refusing a run. Sharma hit 11 fours and four sixes in his 126-ball innings but should have been caught on 96 when Tabraiz Shamsi dropped a straightforward offering at third man off Kagiso Rabada.REPORT: India wrap up an historic series win by beating South Africa in the fifth ODI at Port Elizabeth https://t.co/NWFOLLanZ8 pic.twitter.com/RFGlSu7oqA
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 13, 2018
India completed a historic series win over South Africa yesterdayhttps://t.co/aHXDtEHP0y #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Z6SKyMBUXh
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 14, 2018