Tuesday, August 28, 2012

ENG Series-South Africa won the match

Southampton: Hashim Amla inflicts another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa win the second ODI by 80 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.

Amla 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 ODI runs as he reached just his 57th innings compared to the 69 it took West Indies great Vivian Richards. It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the foundation stone of the Proteas' 287 for five, made after captain AB de Villiers win the toss. England in reply was dismissed for 207, with more than 9 overs left.

Amla 10th hundred at this level surpass team-mate Graeme Smith's 141 in Centurion 3 years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in Benoni in 2008.success saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this 5-match series following Friday's washout in Cardiff and ended England's run of 10 straight wins in finished one-dayers.

It also meant South Africa, having already dethroned England at the top of the world Test rankings this tour, also replaced them at the head of the same one-day standings and were now top in all 3 formats. South Africa only needs to draw this series to cement their new-found status, while England must win it to remain in pole place in the 50-over format.

England's attack must be sick of the sight of Amla, who made a South Africa record 311 not out in the 1st Test at The Oval last month and another hundred as the Proteas conserved the 3-match series 2-0 with victory at Lord’s. Opener Amla, a touch batsman rather than a power player, was in sight of the rare difference of carrying his bat in a ODI match when, 2balls before the end of the innings, he uppercut fast bowler Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan.

The ball before the stylish Amla, who put on 89 for the 1st wicket with Test skipper Smith (52), gave himself room to work the ball down to 3rd man for a 4 that took him to 150 in front of a near-capacity Ages Bowl crowd in this day/night fixture. Amla faced 124 balls with 16 boundaries but was missed on 92 when Johannesburg-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter failed to hold a intricate but catchable leg side chance off Finn.

England was reduced to nought for one when skipper Alastair Cook was superbly yorker by Lonwabo Tsotsobe off just the 2nd ball of their reply. Ian Bell got England going again but a second-wicket partnership worth 64 ended when Jonathan Trott, a previous South Africa youth international, was luminously caught over his shoulder by Dean Elgar at long leg off M- Morkel.

And 64 for 2 became 77 for 3 when Bell, whose 45 came at better than a run-a-ball, played down the wrong line to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson made it 2 wickets for three runs in 8 balls when Ravi Bopara struck a long hop to short extra-cover. England, without the exile Kevin Pietersen, was now 90 for four.Kieswetter then became Elgar's 1st wicket at this level when he edged the slow left-armer's 3rd ball to Smith at slip. Any hopes of a late England rally left when Eoin Morgan, Bresnan and Swann all exited on the same total to leave the hosts 159 for 8.

Last man Finn and Patel entertain the crowd with some bold boundary hitting before Patel was caught behind for 45 off Morkel to end the match. The series continues at The Oval on 31- 8-2012 (Friday).

Man of the match:

Hashim Amla

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