Amla's 25th ODI century props up Proteas

Run-machine Hashim Amla struck his 25th ODI century to guide South Africa to a challenging 299 for six against Sri Lanka in a Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy here today.
Amla became the fastest batsman to achieve the milestone of 25 One-day International hundred, taking 151 innings, which surpassed India's Virat Kohli (162 matches).
The 34-year-old batsman entered the Champions Trophy in the midst of a purple patch as he hit two hundreds in the latter part of the IPL and continued with his good form in England.
In the preceding three-match series, he managed two half-centuries even as the Proteas lost the rubber.

During his 103-run knock, which ended in a run out, Amla shared a 145-run stand for the second wicket with Faf du Plessis, who hit a 70-ball 75.
Amla scored at a decent pace, taking 115 balls for his knock that featured only five fours and two sixes.

It was a slow start, though, for the Proteas after being asked to bat with Amla and Quinton De Kock (23) putting on just 44 in 12 overs.
The elegant left-hander nicked a full length ball off Pradeep in the slips.
Plessis was dropped on eight by Lasith Malinga off Nuwan Pradeep, setting the platform for the Prorteas' total.

Plessis pulled one from Pradeep but managed only a top- edge, which flew to the fast bowler towards long on and he grassed it. By that time, South Africa had 189 runs on the board, with enough overs left for the following batsmen to exploit.
However, the other batsmen did not really fire. Skipper AB de Villiers came a cropper, managing just four runs, and big-hitting David Miller (18) and Chris Morris (20), too, failed to get going.
Left-hander J P Duminy did his bit in propelling the side with his quick-fire 20-ball 38 with five fours and a hit over the ropes.