South Africa win despite Taylor heroics
by Colin Bryden
CRICKET: BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Oct 16 (AFP) - Hashim Amla and
debutant Colin Ingram eased their way to centuries to set up a 64-run
win for South Africa in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe
in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Amla hit 110 and Ingram 124 as South Africa made 351 for six after
winning the toss and taking advantage of a good batting pitch at the
Oval.
Zimbabwe opening batsman Brendan Taylor made a superb, career-best
145 not out as the tourists made a spirited reply, scoring 287 for six
on a chilly night.
With South Africa missing key bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and
Jacques Kallis because of injury, captain Graeme Smith said he thought
his side's bowling was "decent" despite them being unable to bowl out
the Zimbabweans.
"We struggled in the first ten overs but from there to at least 35
overs we were really good. After that the game drifted a bit and it was
really cold," he said.
Smith praised a powerful batting performance in which the left-handed
Ingram, 25, became the first South African and the sixth player in the
world to make a century on a one-day debut.
Ingram had made only three and 12 in two Twenty20 internationals
against the same opponents in the previous seven days.
He had the opportunity to play a substantial innings under minimal
pressure, batting at number three after Amla and captain Graeme Smith
had put on 64 for the first wicket off only 47 balls.
Man of the match Ingram was able to build his innings by pushing the
ball into the gaps while Amla raced to fifty off 32 balls and his fourth
one-day international century off 87 deliveries with 14 fours. Ingram
hit only two boundaries as he reached his half-century off 65 balls but
he picked up the pace after Amla was run out and finished with 124 off
126 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.
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