AMLA LEADS PROTEAS TO SCRAPPY VICTORY
Class ton from man-for-all-seasons SA opener ensures home side draw first blood in ODI series
South Africa 304/7 New Zealand 284 all out South Africa win by 20 runs
HASHIM Amla provided an elegant note to a mostly scrappy opening Momentum One-Day International here yesterday, creating the foundation upon which South Africa gained the advantage in the threematch series.
Amla stood out like a beacon amidst a sea of mediocrity, and spectators in Potchefstroom and Durban must hope that standards will improve in the last two matches.
South Africa’s innings revolved around a partnership of 185 for the second wicket between Amla and Rilee Rossouw, the latter choosing to be extra cautious against New Zealand’s spinners after being elevated up the order to the No3 spot normally occupied by Faf du Plessis. It took him 81 balls to bring up his half-century but fortunately for South Africa they weren’t hampered by Rossouw’s circumspection, thanks to Amla.
Come summer, spring or in this series’ case winter, the composed Amla is the Proteas man for all seasons. This was another display of controlled aggression that gave South Africa’s innings the necessary impetus.
New Zealand didn’t make it easy either. They used the short ball smartly early on, troubling both Amla and opening partner Morné van Wyk and it took some deft work from South Africa’s one-day vice-captain, to counter that threat as he reached his 21st ODI century, tying Herschelle Gibbs as South Africa’s leading century-maker in this format. Amla scores his runs at a quicker rate too – 89.45 to Gibbs’ 83.26 – which will surprise those (especially Amla’s early critics) who felt he wasn’t suited to the one-day format.
A major part of South Africa’s batting strategy in the 50-over format is the importance of a big partnership from the top order and Amla and Rossouw were meticulous in the way in which they constructed their sizeable stand.
It was the 33rd time that Amla had been involved in partnerships worth 100 or more runs in ODIs.
Rossouw only really seemed to settle once he’d gotten to 50 – the fourth of his career – and from then on his power game came to the fore. He was eventually dismissed by a brilliant yorker from Mitchell McCleneghan for 89 (112b, 6x4, 3x6). The same fate befell Amla shortly thereafter, from the same bowler, following his fine innings of 124 (126b, 13x4, 3x6).
New Zealand wouldn’t have been too displeased with their bowling effort in which Adam Milne (2/51) and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (0/55) were the top performers.
Their reply was hampered however by the need to press opener Martin Guptill down the order to No 4 after he injured his wrist while diving for a catch in the outfield and jammed his arm into the turf.
South Africa were far from their best with the ball – they conceded 32 extras. And whatever strategies were outlined – whether leaked or not – were clearly not executed very well. In addition the fielding was for the most part awful with four catches dropped. It was an ugly game, but one that had the right result for the hosts. The second match is on Sunday in Potchefstroom.
Du Plessis has been ruled out of the ODI series after failing to recover from an injury to a tendon in his left knee. He has been advised a rest period of three weeks to ensure a full recovery ahead of the tour to India at the end of September.