Pak bowlers butchered by Amla, de Villiers in 3rd ODI

JOHANNESBURG: Aggressive centuries by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers guided South Africa to make a huge total of 343 for five in the third One-day International here at the New Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Sent into bat by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, South Africa were in trouble losing two early wickets for 42 as Graeme Smith (3) and Colin Ingram (17) fell to fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.

However, Amla and de Villiers came to rescue and succeeded in their operation while sharing a world record partnership of 238 for the third wicket. Their record stand beat by one run the previous one-day international third wicket mark set by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar for India against Kenya in 1999.

Both hit centuries in the process: Amla made 122 off 113 balls with nine fours and a six for his eleventh ODI hundred while de Villiers scored 128 off 108 balls with twelve fours and three sixes for his 14th hundred in ODI cricket.

Later, Faf du Plessis further consolidated the team’s position with a breezy 43 from just 19 balls. He smashed three towering sixes and four powerful boundaries.

For Pakistan, Irfan claimed two wickets for 34 runs in seven overs while seamer Wahab Riaz also took two wickets but at a cost of 93 runs in ten overs, the most for a Pakistan bowler in an ODI. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal could get one wicket for 62.

Pakistan were briefly reduced to ten men after Irfan, who had been a doubtful starter because of a hamstring strain, left the field for treatment.

He was replaced by Umar Akmal but after 20 minutes the umpires informed Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq that the maximum 20 minutes allowed for treatment had expired. Pakistan had a fielder short for two overs before Irfan returned.

Pakistan made one change from the side that levelled the five-match series with a six-wicket win on Friday as Wahab Riaz replaced fellow fast bowler Umar Gul who was unwell.

Fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt returned to the South African team in place of Kyle Abbott after missing the second match at Centurion with a rib strain.

South Africa won the opener in Bloemfontein by 125 runs.