Just as the ODI format was once again criticized for its lack of entertainment value, South Africa and England won big at Bloemfontein, showing that 50-over cricket has a lot of life. The Proteas recovered late in this first match of his three-match series to win by 27 runs.
First he posted 298 for seven strokes before they were almost out of the game when the England opener posted 146 for the first wicket in his 19.2 overs. Jason Roy’s 113 seems to have canceled out Rassie van der Dussen’s 111 early in play. However, his 46-3 for Sisanda Magala drove back the visitors, and speed demon Anrich Nortje famously won by beating them with his 62-4. Had he not stepped over when Adil Rashid fluttered a short ball into the first slip, Norce could have had the first five-wicket pull. Nonetheless, the win puts South Africa one step closer to his 50th Over World Cup this year and definitely locks him in one of his five must wins to confirm his place in the competition. rice field.
His 100 for Roy, chasing 299 goals, had nurturing qualities beyond what seemed a surefire outcome in his team’s favor. Surrey’s opener form faded after being weak in both restricted overcodes, and was defeated on the eve of England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign.
Going into that series and his 111th ODI, his previous 14 white-ball innings for his country averaged 16.9. With The Hundred and his SA20 averaging 8.50 for the Oval Invincibles and 12.50 for the Paarl Royals, the conversation was moving from poor form to whether he’s exhausted for a 32-year-old. So understand the outburst of emotions – part relief, part anger – when he spins Nortje on the 4 to move to three numbers and score a 100 a day of 11 for fourth place. I was able to do. His 14 boundaries to that point (three of which were his six) reflected a return to form that was a key part of England’s whiteball revolution that led to its 2019 World Cup success. I’m here.
Unfortunately, after Roy’s death, things started to reverse course for Protea, with England demanding 104 from his 20.5 overs and skipper Jos his Butler sitting at the crease. But the match took a turn when he was hit by his 36-point sharp leg his cutter and David He Willie was intercepted by his top edge (both against Norce). Sam Curran was flanked by Kagiso Labada before Nolce came back to remove Jofra Archer for the final wicket.
It was left to Tabrais Shamsi to complete the win with two catch-and-bowl deliveries in six overs. That in itself was typical of the turn – the wrist spinner in his left arm had been wrecked for 55 in his first five.
His 7-for-298 for South Africa looked like the score at the time and pretty much proved it. Van der Dussen’s second century against England, complemented by David Miller’s 53 goals for him, they looked set up well at half-time. However, the innings had a touch of missed points.
Quinton’s opening 61 score for his cook and skipper Temba, who won the draw, contributed a power of 75 to 1 to his play. They then went 171 for 3 in the 31st round, with Heinrich Klassen trying to make hay but Adil Rashid falling a step ahead.
Even when Rashid and Moeen Ali hit the brakes for a double spin without accelerating the ball, van der Dussen and Miller found themselves with a license to swing on the final stroke. After his 9 overs for Archer, his 20 were carted in his 47th overall, but thanks to exemplary death bowling from Curran, who was in charge of both established batsmen, a number of Only 18 of his deliveries ended.
When Maran played only his fourth ODI, his first since January 2022, the danger over the outcome was nearly halved. England’s opener saw him score 146 already in 20 overs, and at 30.3 he had 153 left, but his No. 3 Ben Duckett, who appeared in the format for the first time since November 2016. arrived at Creese.
Tensions mounted as Duckett fell behind by three – Norce’s first – and Harry Brook ducked in Magala’s second ODI debut. Overall, the top-ranking collapse was 6-3 on 12 balls.
At this point, Roy was 85 out of his 64.
The hesitation at the start of the tap, a slanted, odd reach, was replaced by a towering jab and crisp drive. After going 101 unbeaten against the Netherlands last June, eight innings freed him from half a century of comfort, he continued to assert himself.
It should have been a match-winning knock, but the South African bowlers, especially Magala, who did an enviable job of starting the spell on the 18th during the climax of the opening carnage, made a fine recovery. His dirty bouncer, coupled with his accuracy that produced a 5.11 save percentage, proved to be a formative factor in his comeback. For Archer, by contrast, away from 678 days of international combat, it was a sober return. In the 2019 England super-overs his hero conceded 81 out of 10 overs, but at least picked up a sacking when Wayne Parnell hit him on his point from reverse.
After battling stress fractures in his elbows and back for two years, Archer’s participation was a boost in itself. For Butler and head coach Matthew Mott, England’s failure to win is far more worrying.