• Amla century helps Proteas to 343-4

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    Hashim Amla scored his 23rd ODI century to guide the Proteas to a competitive 343-4 against West Indies.

    It was a much better batting performance from the Proteas at Warner Park on Wednesday night, as there were several, well-measured contributions at crucial stages of the match.

    They will be particularly pleased with the way they contained Sunil Narine, as he bowled 10 wicketless overs for 46 runs. The pacemen generally bowled full which the batsmen navigated well, but the likes of Kieron Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite mixed up their pace well, which was responsible for three of the four wickets which fell.

    The highest individual score by a South African in the series before this was Faf du Plessis’ 63, but no fewer than three passed that mark, two of them coming from the top of the order. Quinton de Kock and Amla put on 182 for the opening stand. Amla coasted along throughout while De Kock played a more cautious supporting role.

    Amla blasted 110 off 99 balls, going one behind De Villiers’ 24 career tons. It was a slower Pollard delivery which sent him back, mistiming one to long-off. De Kock (71 off 103) was bowled by Jerome Taylor in the next over.

    All-rounder Chris Morris was brought in as an interesting experiment at No 3, with Faf du Plessis coming in at 4, raising concerns about the delayed introduction of De Villiers, who blasted 149 off 44 deliveries against the same opponents early last year. The choices were vindicated, however, as Morris looked in good touch for his 40 off 25 balls, smashing two sixes.

    Du Plessis took a while to get going but he finished on an excellent 73 not out, which included a 64-run stand with De Villiers (27 off 19).

    The Windies will have to smash their previous best successful run-chase, coincidentally against South Africa, when they saw off 300 at Centurion in 2004.

    Scorecard

    Picture: AFP

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    SA CRICKET