England vs South Africa, 21st Match, Group B at Chennai, Mar 06 2011, ICC Cricket World Cup

RESULT
21st Match, Group B, Chennai, March 06, 2011, ICC Cricket World Cup
(47.4/50 ov, T:172) 165

England won by 6 runs

Player Of The Match
60 (98)
ravi-bopara
Match centre 
Scores: M Venkat Raghav | Comms: Sahil Dutta
Scorecard summary
England 171/10(45.4 overs)
60 (98)
4/38 (8.4)
South Africa 165/10(47.4 overs)
42 (51)
4/15 (6.4)

England win by 6 runs. Phew! Don't take your eyes off England this tournament! The smiles are fixed back on their faces now after finally finishing on the right side of a thriller. They batted woefully, cluelessly against some spin bowling but put their fielding and bowling nightmares behind them with a stunning display. You wouldn't say their campaign has finally sparked into action but Anderson and Broad found their best and the fielding was very sharp again. Just don't mention the batting. Proof, if anyone doubted it, that ODI cricket does not need truckloads of runs to be exciting.

South Africa, for the first half of the game, looked like certain World Cup winners but under their powerhouse top order is a soft lower order. And that word still haunts them. For this brief moment, England are sitting on top of Group B, but that's entirely because they've played so many games.

Somehow, Andrew McGlashan has to hammer out a complete rewrite but when it's done his bulletin will be well worth a read and for now we have a gallery of the best of the day's pictures. I'm sure the Facebook page will be full of 'excited analysis' and there might well be some interviews and such like up on our YouTube channel.

Graeme Smith looks understandably a bit narked: "It was a great game but it is sad that we wound up on the wrong side. We knew that chasing would be hard on this wicket. We now have a week to prepare for the India game and it will be hard for us as the competition progresses."

Strauss is relieved and cheery fellow: "We were down when we lost the Ireland game, but the guys stood up admirably. We were more disciplined and we are delighted by this victory. The Bangladesh game is massive, but we need to improve on a lot of things before the game."

Batsmen's game anyone? Ravi Bopara is man of the match. Good innings in tough circumstances but wow, Broad and Anderson must feel robbed. Bopara says, "I didn't expect to be walking out at 15 for 3, but me and Trott realised that the wicket was not easy. I was surprised by the amount of turn and we knew that it would be tough when chasing."

Not for the first time, my fingers are fried. Three close finishes on the trot. Absolute pleasure, head over to the India game for now. From me, Sahil Dutta, and from the Andrews - McGlashan and Miller, thanks for the emails.

47.4
W
Broad to Morkel, OUT

Broad has done it! England take the game! South Africans, don't mention the C-word! Somehow England have pulled off a stunning win having been the wrong side of two close results before. It was full and up there to drive, Morkel aimed a big swing but could only feather through to Prior. Broad has conjured up a stunning final over to win the game, England's fielders are going ballistic, not so knackered anymore!

Morne Morkel c †Prior b Broad 1 (3b 0x4 0x6 10m) SR: 33.33
47.3
Broad to Morkel, no run

Broad spears in a full delivery from around the wicket and Morkel clears his front leg to try and thwack down the ground. Straight to mid-off

47.2
1
Broad to Tahir, 1 run

wow! Tahir aims an almighty heave through the off side. The inside edge skews away through midwicket to get him off strike. That'll do nicely

He twitches, looks nervously around at the field. How will he play it?...

Imran Tahir, this is your stage now! Five balls to face

47.1
W
Broad to Steyn, OUT

Broad has nailed Steyn here. Full, nipped back a touch and struck flush in front. Looked stone dead, the umpire agreed and despite a review Steyn had to go.

Dale Steyn lbw b Broad 20 (31b 3x4 0x6 51m) SR: 64.51

What England would do for 15 more runs to play with here. As it is Stuart Broad has to pull off a miracle for them or they will be sitting at the bottom of the group...

end of over 475 runs • 1 wicket
SA: 164/8CRR: 3.48 RRR: 2.66
Dale Steyn20 (30b 3x4)
Morne Morkel1 (1b)
Tim Bresnan 8-1-27-1
James Anderson 6-0-16-2
46.6
1
Bresnan to Steyn, 1 run

excellent bouncer, sharp and rearing into the helmet. Steyn fends it off and gets the ultimate bonus of keeping the strike

46.5
2
Bresnan to Steyn, 2 runs

touch short, and too wide from Bresnan. Steyn pops up on his toes and steers a very confident cut shot through a diving point. Single figures needed now. Wonder how Tahir feels

46.4
Bresnan to Steyn, no run

solid, pressure-defining defence from Steyn

46.3
1
Bresnan to Morkel, 1 run

just a hint of width and that's all the invitation Morkel needs to swing his long, long arms through the ball. An outside edge sends it skimming down to third man

Field up with the Powerplay remember. Tempting for Morkel but Steyn is playing a blinder out there, Morkel should just support him.

This game somehow refuses to die. That stand of 33 might have, must have, proved decisive. Morne Morkel is the new man, he could finish this in a couple of deliveries.

46.2
W
Bresnan to van Wyk, OUT

is there another twist!? Surely not? Bresnan strikes just when England needed it. van Wyk looking to cut but it was too close for the shot, ended up bottom edging onto middle stump

Morne van Wyk b Bresnan 13 (37b 0x4 0x6 67m) SR: 35.13
46.1
1
Bresnan to Steyn, 1 run

that's poor from mid-on. Hanging back on the ring Broad has allowed Steyn to push a single

13 from four overs. Easy, surely. Bresnan to bowl it.

end of over 462 runs
SA: 159/7CRR: 3.45 RRR: 3.25
Morne van Wyk13 (36b)
Dale Steyn16 (26b 3x4)
James Anderson 6-0-16-2
Graeme Swann 10-2-29-1
45.6
Anderson to van Wyk, no run

carefully defended away. Just soaking up all the tension and pressure

45.5
1
Anderson to Steyn, 1 run

fuller here and Steyn mistimes a drive, hits into the ground and it loops up to mid-on, enough time for Steyn to hurtle a single

45.4
Anderson to Steyn, no run

Anderson not daring full for Steyn this time, short of a length and Steyn strong in defence

45.3
1
Anderson to van Wyk, 1 run

mighty effective stuff from an Wyk. Offered width he calmly steers a single to point

45.2
Anderson to van Wyk, no run

full, much better, attacking the stumps. an Wyk jabs it back out to the bowler

How crucial has this stand been? England were favourites when the last wicket fell.

45.1
Anderson to van Wyk, no run

short, very short. Why I don't know but van Wyk swats it without much timing to midwicket

As if the excitement wasn't enough already, here's the batting Powerplay. Ring of fielders come in. Two men out on the leg side and a third man in place.

end of over 453 runs
SA: 157/7CRR: 3.48 RRR: 3.00
Dale Steyn15 (24b 3x4)
Morne van Wyk12 (32b)
Graeme Swann 10-2-29-1
James Anderson 5-0-14-2
44.6
Swann to Steyn, no run

no he doesn't and Steyn keeps him out. Almost there now for South Africa. Swann single-handedly gave England the belief they could do this but his work is done now. Looks like Anderson's reverse is the only threat now

44.5
Swann to Steyn, no run

Steyn hanging back, just one more delivery for him to block away. Will Swann gamble with flight?

44.4
3
Swann to van Wyk, 3 runs

good signs for South Africa, backing themselves in the tightest situation. van Wyk aims a reverse-sweep through the newly-vacated slip position

Slip taken out.

44.3
Swann to van Wyk, no run

van Wyk not trying anything against Swann here, just content to block

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
RS Bopara
60 runs (98)
3 fours1 six
Productive shot
leg glance
17 runs
0 four1 six
Control
86%
IJL Trott
52 runs (94)
3 fours0 six
Productive shot
leg glance
29 runs
1 four0 six
Control
86%
Best performances - bowlers
SCJ Broad
O
6.4
M
0
R
15
W
4
ECO
2.25
Imran Tahir
O
8.4
M
1
R
38
W
4
ECO
4.38
Match details
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
TossEngland, elected to bat first
Series
Season2010/11
Player Of The Match
Match numberODI no. 3120
Hours of play (local time)09.30 start, First Session 09.30-13.00, Interval 13.00-13.45, Second Session 13.45-17.15
Match days6 March 2011 - day (50-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
PointsEngland 2, South Africa 0
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South Africa Innings
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ICC Cricket World Cup

Group A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
PAK651100.758
SL64192.582
AUS64191.123
NZ64281.135
ZIM62440.030
CAN6152-1.987
KENYA6060-3.042
Group B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
SA651102.026
IND64190.900
ENG63270.072
WI63361.066
BAN6336-1.361
IRE6244-0.696
NED6060-2.045