South African Cricketer extraordinaire Hashim Amla scored 82 not out off 55 balls anchored South Africa’s masters’ pursuit of 158 runs and received good support from Alviro Petersen (56 off 41), that helped the Proteas overcome a challenging start. Amla’s team the Proteas, the South African Masters rode a glorious half-century thanks to their star batter. Amla was able to defeat the English Masters League 2025, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Monday, the third of March. Amla’s 82 not out of 55 balls reduced to 38/2 after the early dismissals of Henry Davids for a duck and skipper Jacques Kallis (8), Amla and Petersen joined forces to pile misery on the English bowlers.
South Africa Masters won the toss and opted to bowl first against England Masters. The Proteas side is being led by all-time great all-rounder Jacques Kallis, with other titans like Vernon Philander, Makhaya Ntini and JP Duminy in the fold. The Poms will be captained by former national team skipper Eoin Morgan. South Africa Masters Vs England Masters, IML: Playing XIs South Africa Masters: Henry Davids, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis (c), Jacques Rudolph, Farhaan Behardien, Dane Vilas (wk), Alviro Petersen, Vernon Philander, Garnett Kruger, Thandi Tshabalala, Makhaya Ntini.
England Masters: Phil Mustard (wk), Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan (c), Tim Ambrose, Darren Maddy, Tim Bresnan, Chris Schofield, Chris Tremlett, Stuart Meaker, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom. With the win, South Africa Masters jumped to fourth in the table with two points from three games. The English outfit, however, suffered its third straight defeat.
Playing cricket especially professional cricket on live television can be quite complex. To condense the game to match broadcasting schedules means it has to be simplified over the course of the said matches. The spectators still enjoy the game as long as it builds up to the intensified moment. The Poms mentioned above is a nickname given by the Australians to the British particularly when referring to their sports teams. The nickname stems from Australia’s colonial legacy. Well, the Poms were definitely given a run for their career by the Proteas.
This was a professional match between two professional top teams. These were Proteas on the one hand and Three Lions of England and Wales on the other. Each team gave their best in the sport and each played according to their talent and ability. The Proteas had to keep their wits about them when competing against the English.
South Africa’s Proteas also had to contend against New Zealand’s Black Caps in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday, in the second semi-final of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Championship team. Three Blacks Caps players in particular could be a match like no other for the Proteas to contend with.
In a generation with the likes of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith dominating One Day International cricket, it can be easy to forget just how exceptional Williamson is in the 50-over format. The former New Zealand captain averages a touch under 50 in 171 ODIs with 14 centuries and 47 half-centuries in his name. Kane Williamson brings up his 14th ODI century in just 72 balls. His second fastest century in ODI cricket and part of a 187-run second wicket stand with Devon Conway (97). Most, importantly, the top-order batter does tend to take a liking to the Proteas attack having smashed an unbeaten 133 against South Africa in the tri-series last month. Coming in to bat at number three in the batting order, Williamson will be a key wicket for the South African quicks.
The Proteas will have their work cut out for them if they can’t contest their win against Kohli, Smith and Williamson. The Blacks Caps will prove themselves a force to be reckoned with given how tough they are on cricket field against the wickets. The Proteas will have to be on their guard against any trouble the All blacks throw or hit their way. Williamson and his team mates will not be easily swayed given how they have been trained to hone their skills. The likes of Jacques Kallis, Vernon Philander, Makhaya Ntini and JP Duminy will be difficult to compete against in their own right. Scoring centuries and balls can be done depending on how the talent of the players are honed. Scoring a hundred or over that number can prove to be contentious. The number of runs the Proteas can score will also determine if they win.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
