LONDON: Sri Lankan death over bowling restricted Proteas to 299 runs despite a ton by opener Hashim Amla in their first match of Champions Trophy at the Oval on Saturday.   

Earlier, South Africans lost their first wicket on 44 runs when Quinton de Kock was caught behind on a ball by Nuwan Pradeep on the first bowl of 12th over.

Hashim Amla and F du Plessis steadily took ahead the South African innings soon after the fall of the first wicket, the latter scored an inning of 75 runs off 70 bowls, with six boundaries in his inning. In the 33rd over Pradeep once again struck by taking the wicket of Du Plessis.

AB de Villiers was on 4 runs on the crease after the wicket, but to the surprise of many South African fans the experienced batsman on gave away his wicket on the leg break bowling of Seekkuge Prasanna.

Amla`s century was followed by a wicket of David Miller. Later, the veteran open got run out in the very next over.

A brilliant run out from Tharanga ended Chris Morris innings on 20 runs. 

However, a brief 20 balls inning from JP Duminy took became a sigh of relief for the South African team as he scored 38 runs by hitting five fours and a six on the last ball of inning - taking the total to 299 runs. 

Top-ranked South Africa have already enjoyed overwhelming one-day international success against Sri Lanka this year.

They whitewashed Sri Lanka 5-0 in a bilateral series in South Africa in January. Sri Lanka were not alone in being a touring side routed in 50-over cricket by South Africa, with the Proteas previously also hammering Australia 5-0.

Yet South Africa have a reputation for under-performing in ICC tournaments. The only ICC event they have won was the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998.

South Africa also boast the world´s number one-ranked ODI batsman and bowler in AB de Villiers and Kagiso Rabada, respectively.

In all they have four batsmen and two bowlers in the respective top 10 ICC rankings, while seventh-placed Sri Lanka have none in either list.

"We´re still ranked the No 1 team in the world going into the tournament, so there are quite a few reasons for us to be confident," said South Africa ODI captain de Villiers, whose side were beaten 2-1 away to Champions Trophy hosts England in a preceding three-match warm-up series.

AB de Villiers poses with the trophy/ICC

"But we´re still humble at the same time and know that we have to work hard and take it one step at a time to win this," he added.

Sri Lanka head into the tournament as underdogs and one of the key reasons they´ve struggled in recent months has been the absence of fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who hasn´t played any ODI cricket since November 2015 due to a knee injury.

The return of Malinga, whose unorthodox, slingshot action makes him one of the most difficult bowlers to face in world cricket, would be a massive boost for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka skipper and all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been forced to sit out during South Africa match, after scans revealed some days ago he´d suffered a calf strain.

Squads

South Africa 

Sri Lanka