World Cup Group B, Mohali:
S Africa 351-5 (50 overs) bt Netherlands 120 (34.5 overs) by 231 runs
Match scorecard

South Africa outclass Netherlands

By Jamie Lillywhite

South Africa continued their impressive start to the World Cup with an emphatic 231-run win against the Netherlands.

AB de Villiers, who made 107 in their first match against West Indies, struck a 134 from 98 balls with 13 fours and four sixes - his 11th one-day century.

He shared 221 with Hashim Amla who made 113 off 130 balls in 351-5, the highest one-day international total in Mohali.

In reply, Wesley Barresi hit five fours in 44 but spinner Imran Tahir took 3-19 as the Dutch were all out for 120.

South Africa's record third-wicket partnership in World Cup matches ensured a formidable total but they had their problems in the early part of the innings in cloudy conditions before a small crowd.

Skipper Graeme Smith played across the line to one from around the wicket and lost his leg-stump, while Jacques Kallis, who made only four against the Windies, was dismissed for just two, caught down the legside.

De Villiers hit an exquisite array of shots in another masterful innings and, having completed his hundred from 88 balls, he promptly fired three successive sixes from the first three deliveries of the 44th over bowled by Bernard Loots.

In the next over, the opening three deliveries from Ryan ten Doeschate were dispatched to third man, cover and mid-off for four.

With De Villiers in such prime form, Amla quietly accumulated his eighth one-day century from 121 balls before he was tucked up trying to hit through the off-side and sliced a simple catch to point.

It's nice that we've got a bit of a run of games and we can get a bit of confidence going and get on a roll Graeme Smith

De Villiers was run out seeking a second run but JP Duminy displayed some sweet timing to launch a four and two sixes from three consecutive deliveries in the final over.

The Dutch reply began confidently with 26 from the first five overs before Kallis struck with his opening delivery, clutching a sharp return chance offered by Alexei Kervezee at the second attempt.

Kallis saw Barresi badly spilled at mid-on by Morne Morkel but in his next over the all-rounder conjured up the wicket of Tom Cooper when a top-edge was smartly snaffled on the fine-leg boundary by Dale Steyn.

Former Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent hit a glorious straight drive for six off slow left-armer Robin Peterson but was lbw next ball as the spinners began to take control.

Pakistan-born leg-spinner Tahir soon bamboozled the batsmen with a googly and two quicker balls as the final six Netherlands wickets fell for 20 runs in seven overs.

Meanwhile Man-of-the-Match De Villiers, who did not keep wicket due to a back injury as Morne van Wyk took the gloves, said: "I have been feeling my back for the last few days. It's obviously tough batting and then keeping, which I am not quite used to.

"But I am getting there and luckily the management decided to give me some time off."

Captain Smith said: "From our perspective it was just nice to win and win well. We've got a big two games coming our way now. England on Sunday and then India. It's nice that we've got a bit of a run of games and we can get a bit of confidence going and get on a roll."

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