Johannesburg – A world-record third-wicket partnership between century-makers Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers took South Africa to 343 for five in the second one-day international against Pakistan at the Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on Sunday.
Their stand of 238 runs came off 194 deliveries and included 18 fours and four sixes.
The previous record of 237 was held by India's Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, set in 1999 against Kenya.
The Proteas had started poorly as Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan put them under pressure with their pace and bounce.
Irfan took the early wicket of Graeme Smith (three), who got an inside edge onto his stumps, and surprised Colin Ingram (17) with his bounce when the ball reared up at him and he got a leading edge into the gloves of Kamran Akmal.
Amla and De Villiers proceeded to undo all the good work done by the Pakistani bowlers but not without some good fortune.
Amla was given out lbw off Junaid Khan's second delivery of the morning but, after a discussion with Smith, he called for a review and the ball was shown to have pitched just outside leg stump. It was a close call as part of the ball was on the mat.
In his stride on 36, Amla was dropped by Mohammad Hafeez at backward point after what looked to be a straightforward catch.
From that moment onwards, Amla never looked back and, together with De Villiers, the pair churned out the runs.
Amla's 11th ODI century, and his first at the Wanderers, came at a run a ball and included seven boundaries.
Surviving an appeal on 99, De Villiers brought up his 14th career ton after facing 87 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and two sixes.
With their hundreds under their belts, they pelted the bowlers all over the ground but, immediately after achieving their record-stand, Amla's innings came to an end when he spooned a simple catch to Misbah at extra cover. He made 122 off 113 balls, and hit nine fours and a six.
De Villiers departed shortly afterwards for 128, from 108 deliveries with 12 fours and three sixes. Shoaib Malik judged the catch perfectly, diving to his left to give Saeed Ajmal his only wicket of the match.
There was no respite for the bowlers as Faf du Plessis played a cameo innings, scoring 45 off only 19 balls.
Once again, Irfan was the pick of the bowlers, bagging two for 34 off seven overs, while Wahab Riaz took two for 93, grabbing the wickets of Amla and Du Plessis. – Sapa