De Kock hits third straight hundred in final India ODI
Centurion (South Africa) (AFP) - Quinton de Kock hit his third century in a row as South Africa recovered from a poor start in the third and final one-day international against India in Centurion on Wednesday.
De Kock made 101 in a South African total of 301 for eight at SuperSport Park.
The 20-year-old left-hander joined four other players who had hit a hat-trick of hundreds in one-day internationals - Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar and two South Africans, Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers.
South African captain De Villiers shared a fourth wicket partnership of 171 with De Kock after South Africa had been floundering at 28 for three after winning the toss.
De Villiers went on to record his 16th one-day international century, finishing with 109.
De Kock's first two centuries of the series were forged during big opening partnerships with Hashim Amla but Amla was out early on Wednesday, hitting a high full toss from Mohammed Shami to square leg.
Henry Davids and JP Duminy then fell to Ishant Sharma in the space of four balls.
De Kock had to play a more cautious game and batted with impressive maturity in a 120-ball innings which included nine fours and two sixes.
De Kock had some luck, however, and was dropped on 37 and 43.
De Villiers was in sparkling form. After reaching a relatively sedate half-century off 71 balls, he needed only another 25 deliveries to notch his century.
His innings lasted 101 balls and he hit six fours and five sixes.
Ishant Sharma was India's best bowler, taking four for 40 and gaining impressive bounce.
With the series secured after winning the first two games, South Africa opted to rest fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, as well as all-rounder Jacquesa Kallis.
