South Africa was far too strong for Zimbabwe, making 309-3 and bowling the home team out for 216 to win the first one-day international by 93 runs at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Hashim Amla batted through South Africa’s innings for an unbeaten 122 as the tourists posted a big total after being put in to bat on a slow wicket. Zimbabwe was bowled out one ball short of 50 overs when captain Elton Chigumbura skied a catch off left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso.
Spinners Phangiso and Imran Tahir took three wickets each for South Africa to back up Amla’s efforts with the bat and the visiting Proteas cruised to a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. South Africa also won the one-off test between the African neighbors last week.
Hamilton Masakadza and Sean Williams scored half-centuries in a partnership of exactly 100 in Zimbabwe’s chase, but that was the only stand that troubled the South Africans. They fell in the space of two overs and South Africa wrapped up a big win.
Amla was South Africa’s anchor as he collected a 15th ODI hundred and was part of two telling stands, a 109-run opening partnership with Quinton de Kock and a 123-run partnership with Faf du Plessis. De Kock contributed a rapid 63 with eight fours and a six at the top of the innings and Du Plessis constructed a more watchful 59 from No. 3.
Offspinner John Nyumbu took two wickets on his limited-overs debut for Zimbabwe but South Africa’s batsmen were never under sustained pressure.