Dream Start For De Villiers As South Africa Demolish Sri Lanka

Dream Start For De Villiers As South Africa Demolish Sri Lanka

Hashim Amla stroked an excellent 112 as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 258 runs

©REUTERS / Action Images

South Africa 301-8 (Amla 112, Malinga 5-53) beat
Sri Lanka 43 (M Morkel 4-10) by 258 runs
First One-Day International, Paarl
Scorecard | Lowest Scores In ODIs

AB de Villiers made the perfect start to his career as South African captain as his side demolished Sri Lanka by 258 runs in the first One-Day International in Paarl.

After South Africa scored 301 for eight, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry 43 - their lowest ODI score and the fourth lowest of all time as the contest quickly descended into a one-sided affair.

Hashim Amla stroked his ninth One-Day International century and there were half-centuries for Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers as South Africa posted an excellent score.

Morne Morkel (4-10) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (3-19) then ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka's top order and only Kosala Kulasekara (19) posted a double-figure score.

For a long while it looked as if Zimbabwe's all-time low of 35 was under threat until Kulasekara and the lower order just did enough to survive for 20.1 overs.

The innings got off to a dreadful start when Upul Tharanga failed to get over a cut shot and steeered Morkel into the hands of JP Duminy off the second ball of the innings and then Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) and Kumar Sangakkara (4) edged Tsotsobe and Morkel respectively to de Villiers behind the stumps.

Dinesh Chandimal (4) was bowled through the gate by Tsotsobe, Angelo Mathews chipped Morkel to Robin Peterson without scoring and then Mahela Jayawardene cut Tsotsobe to Francois du Plessis as the Sri Lankans lurched to 13 for six - at which point news of their demise caused a worldwide trend on Twitter.

Nuwan Kulasekara helped namesake Kosala take the score to 27 before he was caught by du Plessis off Dale Steyn and Peterson's introduction to the attack gained almost instant reward when Lasith Malinga was bowled.

Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis (3 not out) then steered the score onto 43 before the match was ended when Kulasekara was caught by Peterseon off Morkel as he looked to hit out and Dilhara Fernando was trapped in front by Peterson, who finished with two for five.

Earlier, Amla made 112, Kallis 72 and de Villiers 52 before Sri Lanka hit back, Lasith Malinga completing figures of five for 54 as the hosts lost six wickets in the final ten overs - hardly critical when compared with Sri Lanka's later collapse.

The comeback was much needed by the tourists after Amla and Kallis put on 144 for the second wicket, de Villiers raced to 50 in just 36 balls and Albie Morkel blasted 25 in 17 deliveries.

Malinga removed Morkel and Amla in consecutive deliveries and although he missed out on the hat-trick, his efforts kept Sri Lanka in the game - albeit not for very long.

After the early dismissal of Graeme Smith, caught by Sangakkara off Malinga as he fended uncomfortably outside off stump, Amla and Kallis put on a superb partnership. It was dominated largely by Kallis who transferred his form from Cape Town to Paarl with some outstanding strokes but after he was run out - a bad call by his partner - Amla shifted through the gears to hit 112 in 128 balls with eight fours.

De Villiers then added some sparkle to the innings by blasting seven fours, Albie Morkel marked his comeback with a four and two sixes in hitting 25 in 17 balls as South Africa rode roughshod over everything Malinga and Sri Lanka could hurl on them.

© Cricket World 2012