KIMBERLEY – There were rich pickings for South Africa’s
opening batsmen in the ‘City of Diamonds’ as the Proteas followed up their Test
series hammering of Bangladesh with another 10-wicket pounding in the
first Momentum One-Day International in Kimberley on Sunday.
A new national record partnership for any wicket saw the
home team race to victory with 43 balls to spare as Quinton de Kock and Hashim
Amla continued the Proteas’ dominating start to the home summer.
Bangladesh
may have felt reasonably confident after posting 278/7, thanks to Mushfiqur
Rahim’s fifth ODI century.
But it was a target that proved hopelessly inadequate
especially as their bowlers – who were poor in the Tests as well – were unable
to create any form of pressure against the SA openers as they scored 282
without loss.
Amla has scored a century in three of the four innings he
has played against the Bangladeshis on their tour, and registered a 26th ODI
century on Sunday, moving him two clear of AB de Villiers for leading hundred-maker
for South Africa in ODIs.
Amla barely moved out of second gear, hitting just eight
boundaries, with the main feature of his innings, his ability to nudge the ball
into gaps and take singles of which there were 65 in his innings.
Hashim Amla reached his 28th ODI ton for the Proteas against Bangladesh in Kimberley on Sunday. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix
The fireworks came from De Kock, who mixed some elegantly timed drives with some funky sweeps and flicks as he notched up a 13th ODI century, eventually finishing the match not out on 168, hitting 21 fours and two sixes.
The pair broke the previous national record of 256 for any wicket in ODIs for the Proteas, shared for the fifth wicket by David Miller and JP Duminy against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup.
The previous highest first-wicket partnership for South Africa was 247 between Amla and Rilee Rossouw against the West Indies at the Wanderers in 2015.
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis praised the greed of his two openers. “We were saying that we felt a bit sorry for the Bangladeshi team, because it’s been hard toil for their bowlers. But as a team, we want to be ruthless, and today was a very good example of that,” said Du Plessis.
“When you are bossing the game, it’s easy to throw away your wicket when it’s 150 without loss, but the guys are hungry and determined to put in massive performances.”
Kagiso Rabada claimed four wickets for the Proteas on Sunday. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix
Bangladesh created little with the ball, in fact the first opportunity came their way when fast bowler Taskin Ahmed dropped Amla off his own bowling in the 38th over, with Amla on 95.
There was another opportunity in the 43rd over when De Kock, on 159, was dropped on the long on boundary by Nasir Hossain.
Earlier, Mushfiqur seemed to revel in the absence of the responsibilities of the captaincy as he scored an unbeaten 110 to anchor the tourists innings, after One-Day skipper Mashrafe Mortaza chose to bowl upon winning the toss.
The trouble for the Bangladeshis was the lack of any decent support for Mushfiqur, with Shakib Al-Hasan, back in the side after resting during the Test series, scoring 29 – in the process going past 5 000 runs – and Mahmudullah a run-a-ball 26.
They shared partnerships of 59 and 69 with Mushfiqur respectively, but it was insufficient.
Kagiso Rabada, with 4/43, was the best of the South African bowlers, with Imran Tahir (1/45) and Dwaine Pretorius (2/48) providing good support.
It was a forgettable debut for Dane Paterson, with the Cape Cobras bowler struggling with his line and length to concede 69 runs in nine overs, including nine fours and three sixes.
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