ENG vs SA: South Africa bowled out for 83 as England level series
ENG vs SA: Jos Buttler-led England levelled the series with a commanding 118-run victory against South Africa in the second One-Day International on a soggy day in Manchester. South Africa, which was chasing 202, was bowled out for just 83 against England, their lowest ODI total.
South Africa did well to win the toss and bowl England out for 201 with five balls remaining in the innings after weather postponed the toss and reduced the game to 29 overs each side. But when it was the visitors’ turn, the chase, which should have been simple, collapsed to 83 all out. Due to the turn of events, England had an opportunity to dismiss South Africa well before the 20-over threshold, which required to be reached for the match to be considered complete when the drizzles returned.
Reece Topley’s dual strike in the third over marked the beginning of everything. Rassie van der Dussen, the centurion from the first game, strangled down leg for nothing after Janneman Malan first spooned a catch to mid-on. Quinton de Kock, the next to dismissed by David Willey after struggling to get through the dense offside. It didn’t get any easier for South Africa, who were now stumbling at 6 for 4, with three of their top four going for ducks, as Aiden Markram was run out by Jos Buttler later in the over.
In Sam Curran’s opening over, David Miller made a couple of nice strokes before getting bowled by a cutter. At that point, the drizzle began, and England had a challenge from the elements to complete their 20 overs. They didn’t need to move quickly, though, as Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid handled the seamers’ replacement admirably. Both of the spinners were successful in getting the ball to skid, with Moeen stumping Heinrich Klaasen and Rashid dismissing Keshav Maharaj.
Together, the spin combination claimed five wickets. Pretorius and Lungi Ngidi also taken out by Rashid before Moeen completed the victory in the 21st over.
England’s innings also got off to a shaky start, but it was thanks to Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran, who batted lower in the order, that they managed to amass 200+ runs. In a game that cut short by rain, Dwaine Pretorius finished with four wickets, while Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi each took home two.
Jason Roy, who given the opportunity to bat. He got England and himself off to a good start with a reverse sweep off Keshav Maharaj in the first over. But he quickly sprinted down the field to Anrich Nortje and holed out to mid-wicket. When the ball given to Pretorius in the seventh over, immediately following the Powerplay. In which England maintained its position at 49/1, he already engaged in additional activity.
As Jonny Bairstow struggled to regain his footing at the other end. Pretorius utilised the short ball to pick Philip Salt, who had up until that point appeared to be in decent shape. Pretorius had a golden over after that, getting rid of Joe Root with a drag of a leading edge. And Bairstow with a ball that slid between the bat and pad.
After Moeen Ali dismissed at 62/4, England quickly fell to 72/5 in 15 overs. After he dragged a short ball from Maharaj straight to backward square leg. On the opposite side of the beverage break, things got much worse. When skipper Jos Buttler caught at short third off a googly by Tabraiz Shamsi. Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone then quickly put on a 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
In the 21st over, Livingstone faced off against Anrich Nortje. He promptly struck three sixes and a four before dismissed by a deftly bowled slower bouncer. A few overs later, Curran faced Shamsi. And beat him with a 4, 4, and 6 before holing out to long-off. England bowled out with five balls remaining in the innings. After Adil Rashid run out in the last over.
Brief Scores:
England 201 in 28.1 overs (Liam Livingstone 38, Sam Curran 35; Dwaine Pretorius 4-36) beat South Africa 83 in 20.4 overs (Klaasen 33; Rashid 3-29, Topley 2-17) by 118 runs (DLS)
The post ENG vs SA: South Africa bowled out for 83 as England level series appeared first on CricTelegraph.