Amla, du Plessis tons hurt Ireland

AFP

03 March, 2015, 09:18

Update: 03 March, 2015, 11:54

Ireland's Gary Wilson and Paul Stirling celebrate as South Africa's Quinton de Kock is dismissed by bowler John Mooney during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and South Africa in Canberra. Photo: AFP

South Africa score 259 runs after losing two wickets by 38.4 overs against Ireland in the World Cup Pool B match at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday.

HM Amla and du Plessis hit century to reach Proteas to big score.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat.

Both teams have four points each, but South Africa have played three matches to Ireland’s two.

India head the pool with a maximum six points from three games.

The Proteas retained the same side that trounced the West Indies by 257 runs in Sydney last Friday, with fast bowler Dale Steyn set to play his 100^th one-day international.

Ireland have dropped Alex Cusack and included an extra slow bowler in off-spinner Andrew McBrine on a dry pitch that promises lots of runs.

Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson (wkt)

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, AB de Villiers (capt), David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir