Amla, De Kock steer SA to 7-wicket win

Quinton De Kock's star continued his scintillating form of the summer producing his 10th ODI century to become the youngest player to achieve this feat. Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp/Backpage Media

Quinton De Kock's star continued his scintillating form of the summer producing his 10th ODI century to become the youngest player to achieve this feat. Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp/Backpage Media

Published Feb 9, 2016

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Johannesburg - South Africa averted a series defeat to England with a record-breaking chase at SuperSport Park in Centurion thanks to a heroic opening stand by Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla as they stormed to a seven-wicket victory on Tuesday.

The duo shared in the third highest first-wicket stand 239 runs for South Africa in this format of the game while they surpassed the previous highest chase in Centurion after they were set a target of 319.

De Kock’s star continued his scintillating form of the summer producing his 10th ODI century to become the youngest player to achieve this feat before losing his wicket on 135 from 117 balls (16x4, 4x6), three runs short of his career best.

Read: Root has Proteas in a panic

While De Kock has hit a rich vein of form Amla has awaken from his recent slump to move up the all-time list of career ODI centuries.

Amla moved into joint seventh place with his 22nd ton as he kicked on following the fall of De Kock’s wicket in the 37th over with South Africa needing 80 runs for the victory.

The Proteas then oddly sent in David Wiese, who only faced four deliveries before attempting a reverse sweep only to be bowled by Moeen Ali.

Read: Rabada ‘like Chris Gayle’ when he bats!

After sharing in a 62-run stand with Faf du Plessis, Amla edged a Chris Jordan ball to Jos Buttler to make his way back to the dugout on 127 (130b, 13x4, 2x6).

Du Plessis (33 not out) then safely steered South Africa to victory with 22 balls remaining.

Earlier, talismanic Englishman Joe Root batted to his career-best score of 125 runs while a second-wicket partnership of 125 runs Alex Hales frustrated the Proteas bowling attack before Kagiso Rabada finally made the breakthrough in the 27th over.

Before Hales carelessly gave away his wicket it seemed as though run outs would be the only way to make a dent to the English batting lineup.

England opener Jason Roy (20) was the victim of some poor running between the wickets when taking the second run was caught short of the crease with wicketkeeper De Kock removing the bails.

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Roy’s departure brought Root and Hales together for their century stand which lasted just over 20 overs before Rabada struck twice in the 27th over.

Hales knock of top edged Rabada’s short delivery to fine leg where Morkel took the catch on the rope to send the opener to the change room on 65 runs from 73 runs with England on 161/2.

Rabada struck again two deliveries later to remove Buttler on a duck with JP Duminy taking a superb catch at short-square leg.

Eoin Morgan’s (8) stay at the crease also proved to be a short one facing 24 balls before David Wiese claimed his wicket with Amla taking the catch at short midwicket with England on 187/4.

South Africa seemed to be making inroads at this point but the partnership between Root and the new man at the crease, Ben Stokes, brought on a run fest.

The duo combined for a fifth wicket partnership of 82 runs from only 54 deliveries before Root was finally run out.

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At this stage the damage had been done with three more wickets falling before the end of the innings with the tale adding 49 runs in the remaining seven overs.

Independent Media

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