All-round South Africa Rout Sri Lanka

Colombo: Hashim Amla's 13th century in ODIs and a 151-run stand with captain AB de Villiers led South Africa to a convincing 75-run win in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday.

Amla scored 109 including eight boundaries to take the Proteas to 304 for five in 50 overs after electing to bat first at R. Premadasa Stadium.

Legspinner Imran Tahir took three wickets while seamers Ryan Mclaren, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took two wickets each to dismiss Sri Lanka for 229 in the 41st over. Kumar Sangakkara top scored with 88 for the home team..

The South Africa bowlers leaked runs early on but bounced back strongly to seal the win.

Imran Tahir collected three wickets, Steyn, Morne and McLaren picked up two each. The agile South African fielding also deserves a special mention.

The Sri Lankan top-order got going but it was the South African bowlers who seized the crucial junctures. The game appeared to be in the balance when Sanga inaugurated the batting powerplay with a hat-trick of fours. However, Lahiru Thirimanne threw his wicket away instead of playing the support act to Sanga.

Earlier, Hashim Amla hit his 13th century in one-day international cricket and shared a 151-run stand with his captain AB de Villers to propel South Africa to 304 for five in 50 overs.

Amla scored 109 including eight boundaries and a six in his 86th game. De Villiers made 75 off 70 deliveries including five boundaries and a six.

South Africa made a steady but cautious start after choosing to bat, scoring 58 for the first wicket off 77 deliveries. Opener Quinton de Kock looked well-set before he chased a wide delivery from Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews to be bowled off the edge for 27.

Veteran Jacques Kallis, who is playing his first international in seven months, lasted just two deliveries and was out without scoring trapped lbw by Ajantha Mendis. He had last played for South Africa in December last year against India.

Kallis' dismissal brought Amla and De Villiers together and they provided the base for a challenging total.

Spinner Mendis picked up three wickets for 61 including those of Amla and JP Duminy (16) in 10 overs and raised hopes of a Sri Lankan recovery in the latter stages of the tourists' innings. But David Miller (36) and Ryan McLaren (22) shared an unbeaten stand of 55 runs for the sixth wicket to help their team finish on a high.

Brief scores
South Africa - 304/5 (Amla 109, de Villiers 75, Mendis 3-61)
Sri Lanka - 229 (Sangakkara 88, Imran Tahir 3-50)
Result - South Africa won by 75 runs
MOM - Hashim Amla (South Africa)

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