‘This is how ODI cricket should be played’

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla acknowledged the pitch for the third ODI between the Proteas and New Zealand was the perfect wicket for ODI cricket.

The recent trend for ODI cricket has seen scores rocket up with teams getting totals of more than 400 and bowlers taking a pounding from the batsmen who could free their arms and hit through the line on flat pitches.

The series between Proteas and the Black Caps however has seen cricket being played for the first time in South Africa during the winter months.

And pleasantly the weather has been sunny and the pitches have offered something for everyone playing the game. There was always something on offer for the bowlers while the batsmen got good reward if they showed patience.

Amla was the man of the series after scoring a century in the first match of the series and said the wicket in Durban, for the third ODI, produced a good match as the hosts defended a score of 284 to win by 62 runs.

Amla said after the Durban match: "The wickets had a lot in it for the bowlers, which is very good. I think this is how ODI cricket should be played – there is something in it for the bowlers and guys have to bat semi-decently to get some runs.

"It was a bit disappointing not getting runs too often before that. Sometimes when you don't get runs, the hunger increases and you look forward to scoring more runs."

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