South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has starred with an unbeaten 147 as the Proteas crushed Zimbabwe by 171 runs in the third and final one-day international in Potchefstroom to complete a whitewash..jpg)
Boucher smashed the second fastest century in one-day cricket history, scoring 147 from just 68 deliveries with eight fours and 10 sixes to propel South Africa to a massive total of 5-418 from its 50 overs.
The Proteas then restricted Zimbabwe to just 247 from its allotted overs in a confidence-booster heading into next month's ICC Champions Trophy in India.
Zimbabwe only has itself to blame for letting Boucher get away after dropping the wicketkeeper six times in his innings, the first time when he was on just seven runs before he took the long handle to Zimbabwe's bowlers, registering the fastest century by a South African and the second fastest in international cricket behind Shahid Afridi.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Proteas got off to a fantastic start as openers Loots Bosman and Alviro Petersen set the platform for a huge score with an opening stand of 160 runs off just 20.3 overs before a rush of blood resulted in Loots being stumped by Brendan Taylor just 12 runs short of a deserved century.
Jacques Kallis and Petersen guided the home team to 199 before Petersen (80) lobbed an easy caught and bowled to Prosper Utseya.
That brought Boucher to the crease and the pair put on 91 runs in just 10 overs to drive the score up to 290 before Kallis (50) top-edged a catch to Chamu Chibhabha off Utseya.
Justin Kemp (10), Johan van der Wath (5) and Jean-Paul Duminy (24 not out) merely stood back and watched as Boucher unleashed to push the South African score over the 400 mark.
Zimbabwe had almost no hope of reaching the massive target of 419, batting solidly without ever threatening to overhaul the total.
Terry Duffin top scored with 88 before being trapped by Andre Nel, Chibhabha put together a well-made 46 and Hamilton Masakadza 55 before both fell victim to catches by Boucher off the bowling of Roger Telemachus as Zimbabwe posted a respectable 4-247 off its 50 overs.
