adminday/night fixture after losing their opening Group B matches to the West Indies and India respectively.
Run-outs, which cost South Africa dear against India, proved a problem for the Proteas again with both skipper AB de Villiers, who won the toss, and JP Duminy falling to direct hits by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Misbah also held a stunning catch at extra-cover late on to dismiss David Miller.
Amla’s innings apart, no other batsman made more than de Villiers’ run-a-ball 31.
Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez took one for 38 from 10 overs and towering left-arm seamer Mohammd Irfan one for 27 in an innings featuring four run-outs, including two in the final over.
Each wicket was greeted with raucous cheers from an overwhelming pro-Pakistan 25 000 capacity crowd at Edgbaston, situated in Birmingham which boasts one of the largest Asian populations of any English city.
Now the question was whether the Proteas, missing injured strike fast bowlers Dale Steyn (side) and Morne Morkel, out of the tournament with a leg injury after breaking down against India, had enough runs to defend against a Pakistan side dismissed for just 170 by the West Indies.
Amla was dropped on seven when a cut off Irfan flew to backward point where Umar Amin dropped the tough chance.
Hafeez had opener Colin Ingram (20) lbw on the sweep.
But the prospect of Amla, second in the ODI batting rankings, enjoying a lengthy stand with his top-ranked captain ended when he reverse swept off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to Hafeez at short third man.
Amla faced 97 balls with nine fours.
De Villiers was run out, slipping on the turn after a mix-up with Duminy, who in turn fell in similar fashion.
South Africa
C. Ingram lbw b Hafeez 20
H. Amla c Hafeez b Ajmal 81
F. du Plessis c Malik b Irfan 28
AB de Villiers run out (Misbah) 31
JP Duminy run out (Misbah) 24
D. Miller c Misbah b Khan 19
R. McLaren lbw b Malik 4
R. Peterson not out 16
C. Morris run out (Riaz) 1
A. Phangiso run out (Akmal) 0
Extras (lb5, w4, nb1) 10
Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 234
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Ingram), 2-122 (Du Plessis), 3-145 (Amla), 4-186 (De Villiers), 5-195 (Duminy), 6-203 (McLaren), 7-231 (Miller), 8-234 (Morris)m 9-234 (Phangiso)
Did not bat: L Tsotsobe
Bowling: Irfan 7-1-27-1 (1nb); Khan 8-0-45-1 (2w); Hafeez 10-0-38-1 (1w); Riaz 9-0-50-0 (1w); Ajmal 10-0-42-1; Malik 6-0-27-1; — AFP.
Online Reporter