ICC World Cup 2019 warm-up: Du Plessis, Amla power South Africa to 338/7

Aggressive half-centuries from captain Faf du Plessis and opener Hashim Amla before late fireworks from Chris Morris powered South Africa to 338/7.

Aggressive half-centuries from captain Faf du Plessis and opener Hashim Amla before late fireworks from Chris Morris powered South Africa to 338/7 against Sri Lanka in their first warm-up match of the ICC World Cup 2019 on Friday.

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne opted to field in Cardiff and SA opening pair of Aiden Markram and Amla led a positive start. They added 47 runs in 6.1 overs before being separated when Suranga Lakmal gave his team their first breakthrough in Markram who scored 21 off 15.

That gave way to an entertaining knock from Du Plessis who was in punishing mood. With Amla, who was relatively composed, he waded through opposition bowlers, belting seven fours and four sixes en route to 88 off 69.

Together the duo added 128 runs for the second wicket before Amla was bowled by Jeevan Mendis on 65. Du Plessis followed him back to the dressing room in the following over, falling in the 24th over, caught by Lakmal off Dhananjaya de Silva.

David Miller struggled his way to a 15-ball 5, his poor form continuing. Having been leaking runs in the first half of the innings, the 2015 semi-finalists came back strongly, picking quick wickets.

From 175/1, SA slipped to 228/5 before the lower order stepped up to fire them to a strong finish. Andile Phehlukwayo scored 35 off 34 before Morris smashed an unbeaten 13-ball 26. Together with Dwaine Pretorius, who contributed 25 not out, he stitched an unbeaten 52-run stand for the eighth wicket with SA taking 63 off the final five overs.

For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep picked up a couple of wickets each.

Brief Scores: South Africa 338/7 (Faf du Plessis 88, Hashim Amla 65) vs Sri Lanka (Suranga Lakmal 2/63, Nuwan Pradeep 2/77)