An unbeaten century from AB de Villiers has helped South Africa post a total of 303-5 in the first one-day international of their series against India at Kanpur
De Villiers won the toss and elected to bat, and his decision appeared to be justified as Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla got the innings off to a solid start.
However, De Kock was to fall just before the 50-run mark when he was caught by Suresh Raina off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin for 29.
Francois du Plessis came to the crease and he, along with Amla, accumulated steady runs for the Proteas as they posted a 50-run partnership to take their side past 100.
Amla was then dismissed for 37 as he was bowled by Amit Mishra, but that signalled the arrival of De Villiers at the crease and he calmly went about his business.
The skipper and Du Plessis continued the solid work of the openers by working the ball into gaps, which moved South Africa past 150 in the 33rd over as Du Plessis brought up his half-century off 59 deliveries.
Umesh Yadav came back into the attack for the home side to dismiss the 31-year-old for 62, while David Miller and Jean-Paul Duminy fell cheaply to leave the tourists' innings on the brink of collapse.
However, De Villiers showed his quality by keeping the innings together by passing 50, and from then on he put on a full-on assault on the India bowlers.
The skipper put on 65 with Farhaan Behardien in the final five overs of the innings as Behardien smashed 35 off 19 deliveries.
De Villiers blasted his way to within reach of a century in the final over, and he brought up his hundred with the final ball of the innings with six over long-on to push his side over the 300-run mark.
Simon Sinclair
