Amla leads SA to 309-3 against Zim

Hashim Amla strikes during the first one-day match between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Hashim Amla strikes during the first one-day match between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Published Aug 17, 2014

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Bulawayo – Hashim Amla helped himself to a 15th one-day international hundred as South Africa eased to 309 for three in the first game of a three-match series against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Amla batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 122 from 132 balls, and shared in century stands with fellow opener Quinton de Kock and number three Faf du Plessis.

The early starts in Zimbabwean one-day internationals traditionally give plenty of assistance to the side bowling first and the game began under cloudy skies, but the home side’s young attack was unable to capitalise on those conditions.

Seamer Neville Madziva and 19-year-old all-rounder Luke Jongwe were both handed international debuts by the hosts, and both struggled against an aggressive De Kock.

The left-hander went to his half-century in just 42 balls despite a watchful start, but a mishit off the bowling of off spinner John Nyumbu, who was making his one-day debut, saw him depart for 63.

The dismissal prompted a period of slower scoring as Faf du Plessis bedded in and Zimbabwe’s spinners dragged the game back.

However, the batting powerplay sparked the South African innings once more as Du Plessis and Amla took 40 runs from the five overs.

Although Du Plessis sliced a Nyumbu delivery to extra cover to depart for 59 soon after, Amla went to his hundred in 120 balls while AB de Villiers and JP Duminy scored quick late runs.

Amla finished with three sixes and six fours in his innings, while Duminy hit the final ball of the innings for six to score 22 not out from just 11 deliveries. – Sapa-AFP

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