We take a look at the top five partnerships for the Proteas, starring Hashim Amla.
1. Amla and Quinton de Kock crush the Tigers (October 2017)
The Proteas’ demolition job of Bangladesh saw South Africa record a 10-wicket victory against the Tigers, thanks to a mammoth 282-run partnership between De Kock (168*) and Amla (110*). Not only was it the fourth 200-plus opening stand for SA, it was the highest-ever partnership for South Africa, eclipsing the 256 set by JP Duminy and David Miller in 2015. Their partnership was also recorded as the joint third-highest opening stand and sixth-highest partnership in ODI history.
2. Duminy, Miller set highest ever fifth-wicket partnership (February 2015)
After being put in to bat by Zimbabwe in their ICC Cricket World Cup Group B match, the Proteas got off to a dreadful start, losing their top four of De Kock, Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers for 83 runs. Duminy and Miller then pulled their side out of trouble – Miller with a career-best 138 off 92 deliveries and Duminy with a 100-ball 115. This helped South Africa to 339-4, as they pulled off a 62-run win.
3. Amla and Rilee Rossouw set the tone before AB lights up Johannesburg (January 2015)
It was a remarkable feat by the Proteas top three, with Amla, Rossouw and De Villiers recording centuries against West Indies – it was the first time three centuries were scored in an ODI and it helped the Proteas score the 12th 400-plus total. Amla (153* off 142 balls) and Rossouw (128 off 115 balls) set a partnership of 247 before the latter was dismissed. De Villiers then shocked the world with a 44-ball 149 – which included the fasted ODI century off 31 balls. South Africa posted 439-2, which remains the Proteas’ highest-ever total and the third highest in history. The Proteas won the match by 148 runs.
4. Amla and Rossouw set the second-highest third-wicket stand (January 2015)
Having scored the highest South African ODI partnership at the time in the second ODI against West Indies, Amla and Rossouw were at it again, scoring a third-wicket stand that would equal the record, in a 247-run third-wicket stand in the final ODI in Centurion. Amla contributed with 133 off 105 balls, while Rossouw recorded a 98-ball 132 to help the Proteas post 361-5. They ended up winning the match by 131 runs and claiming the series 4-1.
5. What is it with Amla and 247? (March 2015)
A second-wicket stand of 247 between Du Plessis and Amla helped the Proteas crush Ireland in the 2015 World Cup. Amla’s 159 remains his career-best ODI score, while Du Plessis contributed with 109. South Africa ended up posting 411-4 and skittling Ireland for 210, claiming a 201-run victory.
Photo: ICC/Twitter
