Southampton: Hashim Amla inflicted another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa won the second ODI by 80 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.
Amla’s 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 ODI runs as he reached the landmark in just his 57th innings. It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the cornerstone of the Proteas’ 287 for five, made after captain AB de Villiers won the toss.
England in reply were dismissed for 207, with more than nine overs left. Amla’s tenth hundred at this level surpassed team mate Graeme Smith’s 141 in Centurion three years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla’s personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in 2008.
Victory saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this five-match series following Friday’s washout in Cardiff and ended England’s run of 10 straight wins in completed 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 equivalent one-day standings and were now top in all three formats.
South Africa only need to draw this series to cement their new rank, while England must win to first in the 50-over format. (AFP)