Hashim Amla inflicted another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa won the second one-day international (ODI) by 80 runs in Southampton.
Amla’s 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3000 ODI runs as he reached the landmark in just his 57th innings compared to the 69 it took West Indies great Vivian Richards.
It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the cornerstone of the Proteas’ 5-287, made after captain AB de Villiers won the toss on Tuesday.
England in reply were dismissed for 207, with more than nine overs left.
Amla’s 10th hundred at this level surpassed teammate Graeme Smith’s 141 in Centurion three years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla’s personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in Benoni in 2008.
Victory saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this five-match series following Friday’s washout in Cardiff and ended England’s run of 10 straight wins in completed one-dayers.
It also meant South Africa, having already dethroned England at the top of the world Test rankings this tour, also replaced them at the head of the equivalent one-day standings and were now top in all three formats.
South Africa only need to draw this series to cement their new-found status, while England must win it to remain in pole position in the 50-over format.
England’s attack must be sick of the sight of Amla, who made a South Africa record 311 not out in the first Test at The Oval last month and another hundred as the Proteas sealed the three-match series 2-0 with victory at Lord’s.
Opener Amla, a touch batsman rather than a power player, was in sight of the rare distinction of carrying his bat in a one-day match when, two balls before the end of the innings, he uppercut fast bowler Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan.
The ball before the elegant Amla, who put on 89 for the first wicket with Test skipper Smith (52), gave himself room to work the ball down to third man for a four that took him to 150 in front of a near-capacity Ageas Bowl crowd in this day/night fixture.
The series continues at The Oval on Friday.
