The pair put on 221 runs, South Africa's best for the third wicket in a World Cup.

Amla completed his eighth one-day hundred off 121 balls, while de Villiers raced to his 11th ton off just 88 deliveries.

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The pair set the stage for the final onslaught, which saw South Africa plunder 136 in the last 10 overs. JP Duminy hammered 40 off just 15 balls with fours sixes and two fours.

De Villiers, who scored an unbeaten century in the previous game against the West Indies, smashed seamer Bernard Loots for three successive sixes before hitting Ryan ten Doeschate for three fours in a row.

Amla hit eight fours in his 130-ball knock before being caught at point off ten Doeschate and de Villiers was run out after striking four sixes and 13 fours in a 98-ball innings.

Amla said there was life in the wicket for the bowlers.

"It nipped around quite a bit and obviously it's quite overcast so it did swing a little bit as well so hopefully if it stays like that it's going to be really difficult.

"Hopefully 350-odd is going to be a good total."

The Netherlands had some success early on, removing skipper Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis (two) in the space of seven runs, with Loots and ten Doeschate taking one wicket apiece.

But their joy proved short-lived as Amla and de Villiers dismantled their attack.

Amla impressed with his shot selection, patiently waiting for loose deliveries to punish, but de Villiers was more aggressive, once reverse-sweeping spinner Tom Cooper for a boundary.

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