Hashim Amla stars at the Ageas Bowl (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Hashim Amla stars at the Ageas Bowl

12:57pm Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Southampton By Simon Walter, Senior Sports Reporter

THE Ageas Bowl belonged to the masterful Hashim Amla today.

Nine years after winning The Ageas Bowl’s inaugural international, South Africa returned to beat England by 80 runs.

And as if his majestic performances during the Test series were not enough, Amla treated the near-capacity 14,783 crowd to an innings that was a joy to behold.

Hampshire legend Barry Richards, famously denied the chance to play Test cricket during the apartheid years, was at the Ageas Bowl yesterday to witness a gem of an innings from the latest star of the new, inclusive South Africa.

Pictures, full match report and reaction in tomorrow's Daily Echo.