Amla was named Man of the Match for his career-best knock of 159
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South Africa opener Hashim Amla smashed a career-best 159 and batsman Faf du Plessis made 109 as the Proteas battered Ireland by 201 runs.
Amla and du Plessis were well supported by batsman Rilee Rossouw, who made an unbeaten 61, and pace bowler Kyle Abbott, who took four wickets.
However, Ireland batsman Andy Balbirnie deserves some credit as he scored a valiant 58.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers would have been brooding over his decision to bat first early on after opening batman Quinton de Kock was caught behind off the bowling of John Mooney for one run.
Amla and du Plessis made up for the early loss of de Kock with a 247-run partnership, during which Amla brought up his 20th ODI century and du Plessis his fourth, before du Plessis was clean bowled by Kevin O’Brien.
Du Plessis’ superb knock of 109 came off 109 balls and included 10 boundaries and a six.
Du Plessis celebrates after scoring his fourth ODI century
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Amla went on to score a career-best 159, which came off 128 deliveries and included 16 boundaries and four sixes, before he was caught by Ed Joyce at long-off off the bowling of Andy McBrine.
McBrine struck again just two balls later when de Villiers was caught by Niall O’Brien at backward point for 24.
Rossouw and David Miller stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 110-run partnership, during which Rossouw registered his half-century, to help South Africa finish on 411/4 off their 50 overs.
Rossouw ended up making 61 off 30 balls, which included six boundaries and three sixes, while Miller remained undefeated on 46 off 23 deliveries, which included four boundaries and two sixes.
Rossouw hit six boundaries and three sixes during his unbeaten knock of 61
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McBrine was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while O’Brien and Mooney chipped in with one.
Chasing 412 to win, Ireland got off to a horrible start as Paul Stirling, captain William Porterfield, Joyce, Niall O’Brien and Gary Wilson were all back in the pavilion with only 48 runs on the board.
Balbirnie and Kevin O’Brien stemmed the bleeding with an 81-run partnership, during which Balbirnie recorded his half-century, before he was caught by Rossouw at deep midwicket off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
Balbirnie’s excellent knock of 58 came off 71 balls and included seven boundaries.
Balbirnie made a gutsy 58
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Following Balbirnie’s dismissal, Ireland’s collapse continued as they went from 129/6 to being bowled out for 210.
Abbott was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Morkel snapped up three, Dale Steyn took two and de Villiers claimed one.
Abbott finished with a career-best 4-21 off eight overs
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Porterfield was disappointed to have lost, and said: “Difficult evening. They played well. We had an early breakthrough, we wanted more, but once the lads got in they were difficult to get out. You have got to take your chances. It was a very good pitch. The lads tried to squeeze as much as possible. Four down coming out to 10 overs, they bowled very well. All credit to the lower order. Every game is a big game. The one against Zimbabwe is a big one.”
De Villiers was pleased with his team’s performance, and said: “Good game today. Very happy with the performance. The nice thing was we did it our way. We are not following any other strategy, we are doing it our way. We want to keep on scoring centuries. It helps set us up for the last few overs. Incredible. Hash will always be the rock for us. Effortlessly plays with a lot of class. Whatever you do he always has the answer. Very impressed with the bowlers. They were very motivated. Combination will depend on match-by-match basis. You always want your top six, top seven in form. Six, seven, eight win you a lot of games. We will see how we go [on the bowling]. I enjoyed it, yes [being called one bouncer for the over]. It was my slower bouncer, actually.”
Amla was named Man of the Match, and said: “Fortunately we got off to a good start. Myself and Faf got going, and then I started to play some shots. We had wickets in hand so we could have a go. Thankfully it came off. It was a good wicket and fortunately we got some runs. Always good to post a win. Any hundred is a hundred. Glad to get some runs. Doesn’t matter how long it takes. We bowled exceptionally well. Glad that edge stuck under the armpit.”