Du Plessis, Amla guide South Africa to yet another warm-up win

Team South Africa seem to be on a winning spree ahead of the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. They have successfully registered convincing games in their two warm-up fixtures in England. Prior to the Champions Trophy, the South Africa team has a short ODI series against England commencing on May 24. The series is expected to be the preparatory ground for them ahead of the Champions Trophy.

In the second warm-up fixture, the Proteas team managed to beat Nottinghamshire at Northampton. In the previous match against Sussex, it was a brilliant ton from Quinton de Kock that had set up the win for them. This time around, Quinton perished for a duck. The innings then saw fifties from Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, and David Miller set up the tone for a big score.

Farhaan Behardien then contributed with 33 in the lower middle order to help South Africa post 275/7 in their 20 overs. In the run chase, Northamptonshire lost their opener Ben Duckett for a duck. The other opener, Max Holden, scored a run-a-ball 55 to take the attack to the Proteas. However, no other batsmen from the team could keep going in the match.

Tom Sole, who came in to bat at number 9, scored a quick 56 off 43 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes to stay in the hunt. But he found no support and the team crashed out for 262 in 47.1 overs. Chris Morris was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 3/36 in his quota of 8 overs with a maiden to his name as well. Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir bagged 2 wickets each as well.

The ODI series commences on May 24. South Africa will then head into the Champions Trophy where they will play against Sri Lanka on June 3 in their first group encounter.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 275/7 in 50 overs (Amla 59, Miller 51, Zaib 2/22, Azharullah 2/58)

Northamptonshire 262/10 in 47.1 overs (Holden 55, Sole 54, Morris 3/36, Morne Morkel 2/32)