In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa began their campaign with a comfortable victory against Sri Lanka at The Oval (London). Sri Lanka decided to field first after winning the toss. South Africa put (299/6) on the board at the end of 50 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka managed a great opening start but following batsmen failed to capitalise. At the end, Sri Lanka was bundled out for just 203 runs (41.3 overs), as South Africa won this encounter by 96 runs.

Brief Scores: South Africa – 299/6 in 50 overs (Hashim Amla 103, Faf du Plessis 75, Nuwan Pradeep 2/54)

Sri Lanka – 203 in 41.3 overs (Upul Tharanga 57, Kusal Perera 44*, Imran Tahir 4/27)

Result – South Africa won by 96 runs

Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match

South African batsman Hashim Amla played a brilliant knock, as he scored 103 runs. It was Amla’s 25^th ODI century, which came in his 151^st ODI innings. With this knock, Amla becomes the fastest batsman (according to the no.of innings) to score 25 ODI centuries. Amla broke the record of Virat Kohli, who had achieved the same feat in his 162 ODI innings.

South African batsmen Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis put a brilliant 145-runs partnership for the 2^nd wicket. Here are some important stats of this incredible partnership:

i) It is South Africa’s third highest ODI partnership for any wicket in their ICC Champions Trophy history. Their top two partnerships in this list are: 178* runs between Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis for the 2^nd wicket (against India at Colombo, RPS on 25^th September 2002) and 159 runs between Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith for the 1^st wicket (against Kenya at Colombo, RPS on 20^th September 2002).

ii) It is South Africa’s highest ODI partnership for the 2^nd wicket against Sri Lanka. The previous record was 144 runs partnership between Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis at Paarl on 11^th January 2012.

iii) It is South Africa’s highest ODI partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka at the neutral venues. The previous record was 119 runs partnership between Herschelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenaar for the 4^th wicket at Adelaide on 24^th January 2006.

iv) Also, it is the highest runs partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy history. The previous record was 125 runs partnership for the opening wicket between Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder (New Zealand) at Johannesburg on 27^th September 2009.

South Africa made 299/6 in 50 overs. Here are some important stats of this innings:

i) It is the second highest 1^st innings total for South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy history. Their highest 1^st innings total in this tournament history is 316/5 (50 overs) against Kenya at Colombo (RPS) on 20^th September 2002.

ii) It is the second-highest total for any team against Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy history. The record is 315/7 (50 overs) by New Zealand at Johannesburg on 27^th September 2009.

During South Africa’s innings, total 5 Sri Lankan bowlers conceded 50+ runs each. It is the first time in Champions Trophy history, where more than 4 bowlers conceded 50+ runs each in an innings.

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled extremely well in this match, as his bowling figure was 8.3-0-27-4. It is the best bowling figure by a South African spinner in the ICC Champions Trophy history. The previous record holder was Nicky Boje with the bowling figure of 6.3-0-23-3 against Bangladesh at Birmingham on 12^th September 2004.

Also, it (8.3-0-27-4) is the second best bowling figure by a spinner in the 2^nd innings of ICC Champions Trophy history. The record holder is Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) with the bowling figure of 5.3-2-15-4 against Netherlands at Colombo (RPS) on 16^th September 2002.