Kagiso Rabada’s dismissal of Martin Guptill was crucial in the context of South Africa’s series-clinching victory in Auckland.

Captain AB de Villiers asked his players for a more energetic performance following the disappointing showing in the fourth ODI. Rabada led the charge in this respect at Eden Park, bowling quickly and aggressively.

The delivery that accounted for the dangerous Guptill – who scored 180 in the fourth ODI in Hamilton – was clocked at 145 km/h. From that moment on, the New Zealanders were on the back foot.

Rabada maintained his fiery effort throughout the innings. He returned in the middle overs to remove Jimmy Neesham with a well-redirected bouncer. The dismissal of the clean-hitting Colin de Grandhomme ensured that New Zealand ended their innings of 149, instead of something closer to 200.

Rabada finished with figures of 3-25 in 7.1 overs, and was named Man of the Match.

Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images