(Sports)S. Africa stun Ireland with 201-run World Cup thrashing

South African cricketer Hamish Amla has hit his highest-ever one-day international (ODI) score to lead his team to a comprehensive 201-run win over Ireland in their International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup clash in Canberra on Tuesday.

Amla punished Irish captain Ed Joyce for dropping him on 10 by making a personal-best 159 from 128 before South Africa became the first team to post back-to-back 400-plus totals by reaching 4/411.

Big-hitting AB de Villiers (24) started like a rocket before skying a mistimed reverse sweep from his ninth ball to give off- spinner Andy McBrine, who also dismissed Amla, his second wicket in three balls.

Kyle Abbott (4/21) and Morne Morkel (3/34) ripped apart Ireland, who never had a realistic chance of chasing down the second- highest World Cup score, and the world Number 11 fell well-short on 210.

The Proteas started on the back foot when the out-of-form opening batsman, Quinton de Kock, was caught behind in John Mooney 's second over.

Ireland's best chance at threatening the world Number Three slipped through Ed Joyce's hands when Amla flicked a ball off his pads to the Irish captain at short mid-wicket in the fifth over.

But instead of Amla walking back to the pavilion at 2-25, wayward bowling from a increasingly despondent Ireland helped Amla and Faf du Plessis (109) to a 247-run partnership.

Amla's 20th century in his 108th innings featured 16 boundaries and three sixes, including two consecutive fence-clearances off Max Sorenson. The South African-born fast bowler was the worst of the Irish with 0/76 from his six overs.

Having calmly reached three figures at a run-a-ball, the controlled Amla soon opened his shoulders to begin South Africa's acceleration in the final 15 overs, that finished with Rilee Rossouw (61 from 30) and David Miller (46 from 23) pairing up for an unbeaten 110-run stand.

Ireland, who slumped to 4/42 inside 10 overs, avoided a record World Cup loss in part thanks to 58 from Andrew Balbirnie. His 81- run stand with Kevin O'Brien (48) ensured their team finished well inside the 257-run record set by India against Bermuda in 2007.

Ireland will fly south to Hobart for a crucial tie against Zimbabwe, with the winner of Saturday's clash a good chance to qualify for the knockout stages.

Injured batsman Jean-Paul Duminy is expected to make his return for South Africa on Saturday when the team, who are now only behind Group B leaders India on net run rate, travels to Auckland to face Pakistan. Endi