CRICKET NEWS - A superb century from South African batsman Hashim Amla proved vain, as the Kings XI Punjab slipped to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of the Mumbai Indians, in Thursday's key Indian Premier League fixture at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
Bouncing back from Monday's first-ball duck suffered against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Amla welcomed a commanding 104 not out from 60 deliveries - eight fours and six sixes included - in a hefty final total of 198 for four.
He became only the fourth South African to score an Indian Premier League ton, after the big-hitting David Miller, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers. Thursday's feat pushed the talented right-hander to third position in this season's run-scoring ranks.
The innings also marked Amla's highest in the shortest format of the professional game, surpassing the unbeaten 97 struck against Australia at Newlands in March 2016.
The Proteas star was well supported by Australian Glenn Maxwell, whose swashbuckling 40 spanned a mere 18 deliveries. The pair shared a brisk 83-run alliance inside six overs.
