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Cape Town - Driven by a century from Hashim Amla, the Proteas have posted a competitive 299/6 in their Champions Trophy opener against Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval in London.
Sri Lanka won the toss and asked the Proteas to bat.
South Africa opted to include pace veteran Morne Morkel in their lineup at the expense of an all-rounder while Sri Lanka welcomed back Lasith Malinga to lead their attack.
It was hard going at first for South Africa with scoring proving difficult against a disciplined Sri Lankan attack.
So much so that after 10 overs, they had only registered 32 runs with just two boundaries.
And just when it looked like they would increase the run-rate, they lost Quinton de Kock, caught of the bowling of Pradeep for a sedate 23 off 42 balls.
Amla was joined by Faf du Plessis and the pair slowly started to increase the run rate.
They put on 145 for the second wicket off just 19 overs before Du Plessis was out for 75 off 70 balls.
AB de Villiers (4) followed an over later which brought David Miller to the wicket.
Miller and Amla then added 32 before Miller (18) fell just as he looked set to increase the tempo.
Amla (103) in the meantime had gone to his 25th ODI hundred but fell soon after when he attempted an ill-judged second run.
JP Duminy and Chris Morris (20) added 45 in just five overs before Morris too, was run out.
Duminy almost got the Proteas to the magical 300 mark, smashing a four and a six off the final two balls from Pradeep to finish on 38 off just 20 balls.
Sri Lanka, however, will be happy to have restricted the Proteas who at one point seemed like they would get well beyond the 300 mark.
Scores
South Africa 299/6
Amla 103
Du Plessis 75
Duminy 38*
Pradeep 2/54
