Mumbai, March 18 (IANS) Star batsmen Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock struck quickfire half-centuries each as South Africa posted a commendable total of 229/4 in 20 overs against an inexperienced England bowling line-up in a Group 1 clash in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
Put into bat, openers Amla (58 off 31) and De Kock (52 off 24) got the Proteas off to a rollicking start, scoring 83 runs in the powerplay.
Playing a flurry of shots all round the ground, the left-handed De Kock brought up his half-century in just 21 balls striking seven boundaries and three sixes.
But just when he was looking good to take the game away from the opposition, off-spinner Moeen Ali struck in the eighth over to send him packing. Amla-De Kock added 96 runs for the first wicket.
Incoming batsman A.B. de Villiers (16) struck two massive sixes soon after his arrival but failed to make a big impact this time around as a top edge from his bat was held on well by skipper Eoin Morgan off the bowling off Adil Rashid to have the Proteas reduced to 114/2 in ninth over.
Despite two quick wickets, Amla held on in the other end to keep the run flow going.
The right-handed batsman after being dropped by Reece Topley when he was batting at nine off the bowling off Ali, proved to be a bit costly for the Englishmen as he went on to score his fourth T20I fifty off just 25 balls. He struck seven boundaries and three sixes.
Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis (17) were then dismissed in space of four overs but ensured team went past the 150-run mark.
Next up, hard-hitting batsman Duminy (54 not out from 28) played a cameo in the end to make sure the Proteas' total went past 200 with ease. He was well supported by David Miller (28 not out from 12).
Ali (2-34) was the pick of the England bowlers.
Brief scores: South Africa 229/4 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 58, Jean-Paul Duminy 54 not out, Quinton de Kock 52; Moeen Ali 2-34)
