Champions Trophy: Amla, Tahir star in South Africa's 96-run win over Sri Lanka

Imran Tahir R celebrates Chris Morris after running out Sri Lankarsquos Suranga Lakmal for a duck during the ICC Champions Trophy match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at The Oval in London on Saturday PicAFPOpening batsman Hashim Amlas 25th century in OneDay International ODI cricket and legspinner Imran Tahirs 427 helped South Africa overwhelm Sri Lanka by 96 runs here on Saturday to begin their ICC Champions Trophy campaign emphaticallyAmla scored a measured 103 off 115 deliveries and shared a 145run stand with Faf du Plessis 75 for the second wicket as South Africa recovered from a very slow start to score 2996 in 50 overs in their Group B openerIn reply Sri Lanka were bowled out for 203 in 413 overs with only Captain Upul Tharanga 57 Niroshan Dickwella 41 and Kusal Perera 44 not out providing some resistance against the South African bowlers Tahir and paceman Chris Morris 232 were the best performersThe foundation of the win was laid by Amla after Sri Lanka won the toss and asked South Africa to bat at Kennington Oval Amla and fellow opening partner Quinton de Kock 23 struggled for runs initially with Sri Lankan pacers Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal keeping it tight from both ends Assisted by the wind and a tinge of grass on the pitch the Sri Lankans leaked only 32 runs in the first 10 oversThe opening partnership lasted for 44 runs in 121 overs before lefthander de Kock edged a delivery from medium pacer Nuwan Pradeep to wicketkeeper DickwellaPradeep could have sent back du Plessis in the 17th over had Malinga not dropped a catch at fine leg after he pulled a short deliveryLater following the introduction of spinner Seekuge Prasanna and medium pacer Asela Gunaratne South Africa got some leeway with Sri Lanka spreading the outfieldIt allowed Amla and du Plessis to build a partnership and they paced the innings well mixing ones and twos with occasional boundariesWhile Amla completed his fifty in 56 deliveries du Plessis reached the halfcentury in 52 ballsPradeep broke the stand as du Plessis pulled into the hands of a jumping Dinesh Chandimal at short midwicket in the fourth ball of the 34th over with South Africa at 1892In the next over Prasanna snared AB de Villiers 4 when the latter miscued one for an easy catch to Chamara Kapugedera at midoffAmla joined in the middle by David Miller 18 as the pair faced the task of restructuring the innings completed his century in 106 deliveries with a single towards square leg off Lakmal in the third ball of the 42nd overThe following delivery saw Miller edge one to Prasanna at third man Amla fell soon trying to run a second following a throw at the bowlers end from Kusal Mendis at midwicket in the next over Amlas knock featured five fours and two sixesWith these two quick wickets South Africa were five down for 232 in 423 overs and still needed a strong finish JeanPaul Duminy 38 not out in 20 deliveries and Chris Morris 20 off 19 did their job to take them to 2996 in 50 oversDuring the chase Dickwella and Tharanga gave Sri Lanka a flying start putting up 69 runs for the opening wicket in 82 overs But after Dickwella was dismissed giving a catch to Wayne Parnell at third man off paceman Mornie Morkel Tharanga ran out of supportJeevan Mendis 11 and Chandimal 12 couldnt contribute the former being dismissed by a splendind onehanded catch by a leaping de Villiers at short midwicket off Morris and the latter being run out leaving Sri Lanka at 1163 in 172 overs The same over saw legspinner Tahir removing Chamara Kapugedera 0 with a lbw decisionTahir then claimed Tharanga and Asela Gunaratne 4 to put his side in command When Morris trapped Prasanna 13 in front of the wickets Sri Lanka were seven down for 191 in 372 overs Eventually they were bowled out for 203Brief scores South Africa 2996 in 50 overs Hashim Amla 103 Faf du Plessis 75 Nuwan Padeep 254 Sri Lanka 203 all out in 413 overs Upul Tharanga 57 Kusal Perera 44 not out Niroshan Dickwella 41 Imran Tahir 427 Chris Morris 232