The real South Africa has finally stood up at the World Cup, and Don Bradman be with the sides who stand in their way. They became the second side ever to score more than 400 in consecutive ODIs when they beat Ireland by 201 runs in Canberra on Tuesday. Centuries from Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis helped set the foundation for a big total, while Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel did their bit with the ball to ensure a thumping win.

For Amla, it was a case of another day, another record. He became the fastest player to 20 centuries in ODIs to add to his already long list of “fastest to” achievements. Although his 159 off 128 balls did bring with it some unbecoming slogging, Amla’s ability to score runs without anybody even noticing is something that sets him apart from other players.

He will creep to 100 almost unnoticed, even if he is scoring at a run-a-ball, and he will race to records without making it look as audacious as some of his teammates. His tandem with Faf du Plessis was enough to unsettle the Irish bowlers. Amla likes it on the offside, Du Plessis prefers it on the onside. When together and in the groove, this makes it incredibly difficult for any bowler to settle. Their 247-run partnership was as demoralising for the Irish as it was exhilarating for spectators. Amla’s penchant for the cover drive and Du Plessis’ innovative flicking made for spectacular viewing.

Despite AB de Villiers only managing a lousy 24 runs, Rilee Rossouw once again pressed for a place in the starting XI, with 61 off 30 and David Miller continued his “coming of age” year with a brisk 46 off 23. Young Quinton de Kock’s lone run will stand out like a sore thumb when glossing over the scorecard, but he can only be swapped if captain AB de Villiers agrees to take up duty behind the stumps, something he is reluctant to do. De Villiers will have other things to ponder, like why he did not go for the jugular when he had Ireland on the back foot.

With five wickets down after just ten overs, thanks to the fire in Dale Steyn’s belly returning, De Villiers persisted with the plan of bringing Imran Tahir on before the 20th over and then, most curiously, opted for Farhaan Behardien to support him. Some of that strategy might have been down to the dubious overrate South Africa has struggled with, one for which De Villiers has already been fined. Another offence will see him banned for the next match, so sticking with a bits-and-bobs bowler might have some merit, but surely not to the extent of giving Rilee Rossouw a bowl, too?

Perhaps De Villiers was simply being a little bit cheeky. Knowing that, barring the most catastrophic of circumstances, the match was in the bag, De Villiers might have simply been trying to see what his back up players are capable of. When Morne Morkel returned for a second spell in the 24^th over, a wicket came in his second over, but still De Villiers was not swayed to call back Steyn or Kyle Abbott, both of whom had bowled just five overs each. Instead, he opted to bring himself into the attack and, as if to prove there simply isn’t anything he cannot do on a cricket field, he took a wicket. Ireland managed to hold on until the 45^th over, and De Villiers said at the post-match presentation that South Africa did things “their way”.

On Tuesday, their way was a subtle and slow approach to knocking the stuffing out of Ireland. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something that worked for them, and that’s all South Africa need to do if they want to keep on progressing through the World Cup. Their next match will come against the comically unpredictable Pakistan, a team as capable of completely demolishing them as they are of completely collapsing. South Africa have a few selection dilemmas to ponder before that match, mostly around what to do with their number seven position. While both Rossouw and Abbott stepping up in the last two games, it will be terribly difficult to justify persisting with Farhaan Behardien. That’s a worry for another day, though – for now, they can simply sit back and pat themselves on the back for a job well done and on their terms. DM

Photo: South Africa’s batsmen Hashim Amla (L) and Francois Du Plessis congratulate each other during the Ireland and South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup match at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia, 03 March 2015. EPA/MICK TSIKAS