Last Update: January 28, 2023, 09:26 AM IST
South Africa lead 1-0 in the three-match series. (AP Photo)
Captain Temba Bavuma said South Africa are committed to playing good cricket, whether they qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup or not
Pacers Sisanda Magala, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada powered South Africa to a dramatic 27-run victory over England in the first one-day international at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.
In response to South Africa’s 298 for seven, Jason Roy and Dawid Malan added 146 runs for the first wicket in the first 20 overs to guide England to a comfortable victory.
Roy played a thrilling 113 off 91 balls but the rest of the batting collapsed.
Magala made the crucial breakthrough when Malan mistimed a pull attempt against a short-pitched ball and was caught for 59.
He followed it up by trapping debutant Harry Brook leg before wicket at zero.
Magala took three for 46 and was named man of the match, while Nortje (4 for 62) and Rabada (2 for 46) reached the climax of the match.
Five wickets fell in short pitch bowling.
“The pitch was a bit of a two-pace and that made the bouncers effective,” Magala said.
England captain Jos Buttler said he was disappointed that his team did not maintain the aggressive intent shown by Roy and Malan.
“South Africa came back really well but I thought we could have tried to keep it going and put the pressure on them,” he said.
Although he finished on the losing side, Roy responded strongly to critics who questioned his place in the team following a run of poor form as he helped England win the World Cup. World Cup in 2019.
He had scored only one century since the World Cup, against the second-class Netherlands, and had scored only 160 runs in his last eight innings, with a highest score of 43.
archer expensive
But Roy was in dominant form from the start of his innings, bringing up his half-century off 45 balls and his hundred off 79 balls. He hit 11 fours and four sixes.
Rassie van der Dussen hit a contrasting century to enable South Africa to post a challenging total.
Van der Dussen scored 111 runs in 117 balls with only six fours.
He held the innings together as the England bowlers came back strongly after a 52-ball 61 partnership between Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer was expensive with figures of one for 81 in ten overs in his first one-day international since September 2020.
But the rest of England’s bowlers had to struggle a lot for their runs on the slow pitch.
South Africa’s total was only 12 runs above the first innings average on a ground known for high scoring.
Left-handed batsman Sam Curran combined his pace and made good use of the bouncer to take three for 35 in nine overs – a formula that later worked well for South Africa.
The three-match series is part of the World Cup Super League and the win was a boost for South Africa, who have not yet secured automatic qualification for the World Cup. India later this year.
Bavuma said that South Africa had gone into the series determined to play good cricket whether they qualified for the World Cup or not.
“We are happy with the way we went about our business but of course we need points,” he added.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)