Kallis down, Amla up in Proteas opener

If your glass is half full, Hashim Amla's century was the most important aspect of the Proteas' 50-over tour match against a Sri Lankan President's XI in Moratuwa yesterday.

If it is half empty, the fact that Jacques Kallis did not make it onto the park because of a stiff back will make you take an alarmed gulp from that glass.

South Africa totalled 297/9 and dismissed their opponents for 189 in 39.2 overs to win by 108 runs. AB de Villiers's men, all 15 of them, 11 of whom batted, were up against a decent side.

The President's XI were captained by Dinesh Chandimal - freshly dropped for the Sri Lankan squad for the first two matches of a one-day series that starts on Sunday. Only two of them have not been capped internationally, and of the other nine only two have not played Test cricket.

All of SA's frontline batsmen, bar Kallis, saw time in the middle. Four of the top five of Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, De Villiers and JP Duminy faced at least 40 balls.

The exception was De Villiers, who took only 27 deliveries to reach 41 and retire. David Miller will be miffed that he faced just seven balls before being dismissed.

Amla needed eight balls to get off the mark but went to his half-century briskly enough off 54 deliveries and to his ton off 79.

He brought up three figures with a six off leg spinner Jeevan Mendis, and promptly also retired.

Dale Steyn had Upul Tharanga caught behind with the fifth legitimate ball of the President XI's reply, but most of the nine bowlers the Proteas used preferred to keep the revs consistent rather than hit the afterburners.

Morne Morkel, though, was in destructive mood and took 3/29 in seven overs. Only Wayne Parnell (2/15) and Aaron Phangiso (2/9) took more than one wicket.

Chandimal and Suraj Randiv were the only two Sri Lankans to reach 50, and the best of the rest was Anuk Fernando's 21.

Beuran Hendricks, who went for 21 runs in his three overs, was the only SA bowler to concede more than a run a ball. But bowling coach Allan Donald will not be pleased with the five no-balls and 12 wides his charges sent down.

Sunday's ODI will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.