Durban - South Africa brushed aside the Netherlands to win their second group B match at the ICC Cricket World Cup in Mohali.
The Dutch faced a daunting initial run rate of 7.04 in search of a mammoth 352-run target set by the South Africans and lost all 10 wickets for a mere 120 runs.
Imran Thair gave another superb performance by claiming three Dutch wickets, dismissing two of their tail-enders at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Jacques Kallis drew first blood with his first ball bowled, by dismissing Dutch opener Alexei Kervezee.
Kallis struck again in the 12th over, sending Tom Cooper packing for just nine runs.
Dale Steyn kept Netherland's Ryan ten Doeschate under wrap by trapping him lbw for 11 runs.
The only noticeable performance with the bat came from Wesley Barresi with his 44-run knock. Robin Peterson also bagged two wickets for a tidy 22 runs in five overs.
In the South African innings, Hashim Amla (113 from 130 balls) and AB de Villiers (134 from 98 balls) propelled the team score sheet to 351 for five.
This was yet another exhilarating performance from de Villiers who scored his second successive century to help South Africa, who found themselves at 58-2 in the 16th over.
JP Duminy was electric with his 40 from 15 balls, smashing four sixes in the process.
Man of the match de Villiers said in a post match interview that he had an enjoyable day and it was great to start the World Cup on a high but there was still much work to do.
The South Africans' total was the highest score in Mohali and their win puts them at the top of group B with a one point lead and very healthy 2.76 run rate.
Alma and de Villiers's combined effort became South Africa's best third wicket partnership, surpassing de Villers and Albie Morkel's 186 against Zimbabwe in 2007.
South Africa's next match is against England this Sunday in Chennai. - BuaNews
