Rassie van der Dussen and Hashim Amla scored half-centuries to help South Africa post 241 for the loss of six wickets in a rain-delayed World Cup fixture against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
In a game that was reduced to 49 overs-a-side, Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson scalped three wickets as South Africa’s batsmen -- barring Hashim Amla and van der Dussen -- failed to deliver. While van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 67, Amla played a knock of 55 (83 balls) to ensure a competitive total for the Proteas.
Put in to bat, South Africa required a good start, but Trent Boult castled Quinton de Kock to hand the Kiwis the early advantage. Skipper Faf du Plessis (23), too, departed soon, failing to keep out a yorker from Ferguson.
Amla and Aiden Markram, who scored 38 before offering a catch to Colin Munro off Colin de Grandhomme, added 52 runs for the third wicket. The two steadied the ship and, in the process, Amla reached the 8,000-run mark in ODIs – the second fastest to do so.
But Amla was soon cleaned up by a classic left-arm delivery from Mitchell Santner and Markram, too, departed a while later. However, van der Dussen, who received twin reprieves, partnered David Miller (36 off 37 balls) to add 72 runs for the fifth wicket. Though van der Dussen hit a couple of boundaries and three sixes, the New Zealand bowlers kept things tight, never allowing South Africa to run away with the game.
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