Amla wages lone battle for proteas
Dubai, Nov. 2: Opener Hashim Amla hit a fighting unbeaten hundred to rescue South Africa against an aggressive Pakistan bowling to guide them to 228/9 in the third day-night international here on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old bearded right-hander batted without fuss to notch 119 for his sixth one-day hundred — his fifth this year — after Pakistan won the toss and put South Africa into bat on a tricky Dubai Stadium pitch.
Amla put on a valuable 59-run fourth wicket stand with Jean-Paul Duminy (26) after Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar put them on the back foot by dismissing Jacques Kallis (nought) in the third over and in-form Colin Ingram (four) in the fifth.
Amla, who has so far scored 986 runs in 13 one-day matches this year, held on end during his 126-ball knock, hitting nine boundaries to carry his bat through the innings.
Pakistani spinners — Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez — also benefitted from the slow turn as they captaured four wickets between them and never allowed South African batsman any room for free strokeplay.
Afridi had dangerous-looking AB de Villiers and Albie Morkel — who both scored 19 each — during his 2/53 off ten overs, while Hafeez (2/34) accounted for Duminy and David Miller (6). Amla added another valuable 38 with Johan Botha (15) before Akhtar dismissed Botha to finish with 3/39. This was the 11th ODI in a row Shoaib has played since his return earlier this year for the Asia Cup , the longest, unbroken stretch he has had since 2002.
South Africa were without their captain Graeme Smith for the second match in a row after he hurt his left hand in the first match at Abu Dhabi, which his team won by eight wickets.
All-rounder Kallis returned while Rusty Theron was drafted in place of Charl Langeveldt and Robin Peterson. Pakistan, who won the second match to level the five-match series 1-1, dropped Misbah-ul-Haq to bring Imran Farhat in.
Brief Scores: South Africa 228/9 in 50 overs (Hashim Amla 119 n.o., Duminy 26; Akhtar 3/39, Hafeez 2/34, Afridi 2/53) vs Pakistan
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