Paarl - Hashim Amla's 112 drove South Africa to 301-8 against Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at Boland Park on Wednesday, despite 5-53 from fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
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Amla batted flawlessly for 45.3 overs when he surprisingly edged Malinga to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara after scoring 112 runs off 128 balls, with eight boundaries.
Playing in his 100th ODI, Malinga struck early to dismiss Graeme Smith (6) in the third over.
Smith tried to force a shorter delivery to the off-side but got a thin edge to Sangakkara, who took a superb catch to his left.
Amla and Jacques Kallis set a new record against Sri Lanka for the second-wicket, putting on 144 runs, off 158 balls, including 13 fours and a six.
The previous highest was 111 set by Kallis and Boeta Dippenaar, also in Paarl, in 2000/1.
The partnership ended when Amla played straight to Mahela Jayawardene in the covers and the fielder threw to Kallis's end and nailed the stumps from an awkward angle.
Kallis was well short of his crease after making an elegant 72 runs, off 80 balls, (6x4, 1x6).
AB de Villiers, in his first match as captain, made batting look easy as he raced to his half-century off 36 balls, smashing a four off a full toss from Tillakaratne Dilshan to bring up his milestone.
Amla reached his ninth ODI century, and first against Sri Lanka, in 114 balls with eight fours.
The pair combined for a run-a-ball 50 and went on to share a 91-run stand off 80 balls before De Villiers (52) was bowled by a yorker from Nuwan Kulasekara.
Albie Morkel, back in the side for the first time this summer, played a cameo 25-run innings, off 17 balls, including one four and two sixes, before Malinga struck again. He was caught at long-on by Angelo Mathews, going for a big one.
The highest ODI wicket-taker in 2011 (48 wickets), Malinga completed his 10 overs with finesse and achieved his fifth five-wicket haul, conceding 54 runs.
LIVE scoring from Paarl
Amla batted flawlessly for 45.3 overs when he surprisingly edged Malinga to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara after scoring 112 runs off 128 balls, with eight boundaries.
Playing in his 100th ODI, Malinga struck early to dismiss Graeme Smith (6) in the third over.
Smith tried to force a shorter delivery to the off-side but got a thin edge to Sangakkara, who took a superb catch to his left.
Amla and Jacques Kallis set a new record against Sri Lanka for the second-wicket, putting on 144 runs, off 158 balls, including 13 fours and a six.
The previous highest was 111 set by Kallis and Boeta Dippenaar, also in Paarl, in 2000/1.
The partnership ended when Amla played straight to Mahela Jayawardene in the covers and the fielder threw to Kallis's end and nailed the stumps from an awkward angle.
Kallis was well short of his crease after making an elegant 72 runs, off 80 balls, (6x4, 1x6).
AB de Villiers, in his first match as captain, made batting look easy as he raced to his half-century off 36 balls, smashing a four off a full toss from Tillakaratne Dilshan to bring up his milestone.
Amla reached his ninth ODI century, and first against Sri Lanka, in 114 balls with eight fours.
The pair combined for a run-a-ball 50 and went on to share a 91-run stand off 80 balls before De Villiers (52) was bowled by a yorker from Nuwan Kulasekara.
Albie Morkel, back in the side for the first time this summer, played a cameo 25-run innings, off 17 balls, including one four and two sixes, before Malinga struck again. He was caught at long-on by Angelo Mathews, going for a big one.
The highest ODI wicket-taker in 2011 (48 wickets), Malinga completed his 10 overs with finesse and achieved his fifth five-wicket haul, conceding 54 runs.