South Africa Beat Zimbabwe Despite Taylor Heroics

Bloemfontein: Hashim Amla and debutant Colin Ingram eased their way to centuries to set up a 64-run win for South Africa in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Amla hit 110 and Ingram 124 as South Africa made 351 for six after winning the toss and taking advantage of a good batting pitch at the Oval.

Zimbabwe opening batsman Brendan Taylor made a superb, career-best 145 not out as the tourists made a spirited reply, scoring 287 for six on a chilly night.

With South Africa missing key bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis because of injury, captain Graeme Smith said he thought his side's bowling was "decent" despite them being unable to bowl out the Zimbabweans.

"We struggled in the first ten overs but from there to at least 35 overs we were really good. After that the game drifted a bit and it was really cold," he said.

Smith praised a powerful batting performance in which the left-handed Ingram, 25, became the first South African and the sixth player in the world to make a century on a one-day debut.

Ingram had made only three and 12 in two Twenty20 internationals against the same opponents in the previous seven days.

He had the opportunity to play a substantial innings under minimal pressure, batting at number three after Amla and captain Graeme Smith had put on 64 for the first wicket off only 47 balls.

Man of the match Ingram was able to build his innings by pushing the ball into the gaps while Amla raced to fifty off 32 balls and his fourth one-day international century off 87 deliveries with 14 fours.

Ingram hit only two boundaries as he reached his half-century off 65 balls but he picked up the pace after Amla was run out and finished with 124 off 126 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.

Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza got Zimbabwe off to a fast start, putting on 70 for the first wicket off 74 balls but after that Taylor saw a succession of partners come and go.

He reached his third one-day international century off 105 balls and finished with 145 not out off 136 deliveries, with 12 fours.

Seam bowler Rusty Theron, like Ingram making his one-day international debut after playing in the Twenty20 games, took three for 62.

Brief scores
South Africa 351 for 6 (Ingram 124, Amla 110, Masakadza 4-86)
Zimbabwe 287 for 6 (Taylor 145*, Theron 3-62, Botha 2-41)
Result South Africa won by 64 runs
MOM Colin Ingram (South Africa)