PAARL, South Africa (AFP) — Hashim Amla hit a century before South Africa’s opening bowlers sent Sri Lanka crashing as the host nation swept to a huge 258-run win in the first one-day international at Boland Park here yesterday.

Replying to a South African total of 301-8, Sri Lanka lost their first six wickets for 13 runs before being bowled out for 43, a record low total for the tourists.

Opening batsman Amla anchored the South African innings and made 112 off 128 balls. He shared in partnerships of 144 for the second wicket with Jacques Kallis (72) and 91 for the third wicket with new captain AB de Villiers (52).

It was always likely to be a tough target for Sri Lanka to chase but their hopes were dashed almost immediately as they made a disastrous start with new ball bowlers Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe both taking three wickets in their opening spells.

Morkel finished with 4-10 to take the man of the match award, while the left-armed Tsotsobe claimed 3-19.

Sri Lankan captain Tillekeratne Dilshan acknowledged that South Africa had produced “fantastic bowling” at the start of his team’s innings.

Morkel started the collapse when Upul Tharanga fell to a diving catch by JP Duminy at gully off the second ball of the innings without scoring. Dilshan also went second ball for a duck, caught behind off a ball from Tsotsobe which bounced and cut back at him.

Dinesh Chandimal, promoted to number four in the batting order, was bowled by Tsotsobe before Kumar Sangakkara edged a lifting delivery from Morkel. Angelo Mathews lasted only two balls before fending another lifting delivery from Morkel to midwicket.

When Mahela Jayawardene was caught at point off Tsotsobe, Sri Lanka’s innings was in tatters at 13 for six.

Kosala Kulasekera showed some fight and made 19, the only Sri Lankan to reach double figures, before Morkel returned to the attack and he was caught at deep midwicket pulling a short ball.

Sri Lanka’s previous lowest total was 55 against the West Indies in Sharjah in 1986/87. Their collapse happened on the same ground where they dismissed Canada for a then world record low 36 during the 2003 World Cup.

South Africa seemed on target for a total in excess of 300 until pinch hitter Albie Morkel and Amla were dismissed off successive balls by Lasith Malinga in the 46th over.

Six wickets fell in quick succession while 22 runs were added in the final 4.4 overs. Malinga finished with five for 54.

Scoreboard

South Africa

G Smith c Sangakkara b Malinga 6

H Amla c Sangakkara b Malinga 112

J Kallis run out (Jayawardene) 72

A de Villiers b N Kulasekera 52

A Morkel c Mathews b Malinga 25

J Duminy c and b Mendis 1

F du Plessis b Malinga 10

R Peterson not out 4

D Steyn b Malinga 1

M Morkel not out 1

Extras (lb2, w15) 17

Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 301

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Smith), 2-153 (Kallis), 3-244 (De Villiers), 4-279 (Morkel), 5-279 (Amla), 6-283 (Duminy), 7-298 (Du Plessis), 8-300 (Steyn)

Bowling: Malinga 10-0-54-5 (1w), N Kulasekera 10-0-50-1 (1w), Fernando 9-0-65-0 (2w), Mathews 5-0-23-0 (1w), K Kulasekera 6-0-36-0 (1w), Dilshan 2-0-17-0, Mendis 8-0-54-1 (1w)

Did not bat: L Tsotsobe

Sri Lanka

U Tharanga c Duminy b M. Morkel 0

T Dilshan c De Villiers b Tsotsobe 0

K Sangakkara c De Villiers b M Morkel 4

D Chandimal b Tsotsobe 4

M Jayawardene c Du Plessis b Tsotsobe 2

A Mathews c Peterson b M Morkel 0

K Kulasekara c Peterson b M Morkel 19

N Kulasekara c Du Plessis b Steyn 6

L Malinga b Peterson 1

A Mendis not out 3

D Fernando lbw b Peterson 0

Extras (nb2, w2) 4

Total (20.1 overs) 43

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tharanga), 2-4 (Dilshan), 3-8 (Chandimal), 4-9 (Sangakkara), 5-9 (Mathews), 6- (Jayawardene) 7-24 (N Kulasekera)

Bowling: M Morkel 6-2-10-4, Tsotsobe 6-1-19-3 (1nb, 1w), Steyn 3-0-7-1 (1nb, 1w), A Morkel 2-0-2-0, Peterson 3.1-0-5-2

Result: South Africa won by 258 runs

Man of the match: Morne Morkel (RSA)

Series: South Africa lead the five-match series 1-0

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS), Marais Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)