Faster than Viv Richards
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second one-day international between England and South Africa
George Dobell at West End
28-Aug-2012
Faster than Viv: Hashim Amla became the quickest batsman to reach 3000 ODI runs • Getty Images
Review of the day
England had declined to utilise their one DRS opportunity when Hashim Amla, on 37, was trapped in front by Samit Patel - replays suggested the third umpire would have been obliged to adjudge the batsman out - but did use it when JP Duminy, on 4, was struck outside the line of leg stump by one from James Anderson. It meant that when AB de Villiers, on 22, edged an attempted switch-hit on to his shoulder and into the arms of Craig Kieswetter, England were unable to review the umpire's decision. Alastair Cook was proved correct five times out of nine when calling for reviews in the ODI series against Australia, but showed in this game that there is room for improvement with his use of the DRS.
England had declined to utilise their one DRS opportunity when Hashim Amla, on 37, was trapped in front by Samit Patel - replays suggested the third umpire would have been obliged to adjudge the batsman out - but did use it when JP Duminy, on 4, was struck outside the line of leg stump by one from James Anderson. It meant that when AB de Villiers, on 22, edged an attempted switch-hit on to his shoulder and into the arms of Craig Kieswetter, England were unable to review the umpire's decision. Alastair Cook was proved correct five times out of nine when calling for reviews in the ODI series against Australia, but showed in this game that there is room for improvement with his use of the DRS.
Moment of the day
Amla was on just 1 when he drove a delivery from Anderson straight to mid-off and set off for the sharpest of singles. Had Samit Patel picked up cleanly and thrown well, Amla might well have been run-out. It was to prove an expensive blunder.
Amla was on just 1 when he drove a delivery from Anderson straight to mid-off and set off for the sharpest of singles. Had Samit Patel picked up cleanly and thrown well, Amla might well have been run-out. It was to prove an expensive blunder.
Stat of the day 1
During the course of his career-best ODI score, Amla became the fastest man to reach 3,000 ODI runs. To put his achievement in perspective, Amla reached the milestone in just his 57th innings, while the previous fastest batsman, Sir Viv Richards, took 69 innings. To beat Richards by any margin - let alone such a vast one - is testament to Amla's remarkable quality, consistency and adaptability.
During the course of his career-best ODI score, Amla became the fastest man to reach 3,000 ODI runs. To put his achievement in perspective, Amla reached the milestone in just his 57th innings, while the previous fastest batsman, Sir Viv Richards, took 69 innings. To beat Richards by any margin - let alone such a vast one - is testament to Amla's remarkable quality, consistency and adaptability.
Catch of the day
Dean Elgar's diving catch, running back at fine leg and clinging on to a tough chance with his left hand, dismissed Jonathan Trott and drove a nail into the coffin of England's hopes. Trott and Ian Bell had added 64 in 69 balls to keep England's hopes alive, only for Trott to paddle a delivery from Morne Morkel towards fine leg. Initially it appeared as if Elgar, running in too far, has misjudged the catch and allowed the ball to pass well over his head. Instead, however, Elgar kept his eye on the ball, leapt to catch it with his favoured left hand and cushioned his landing with his right. While Elgar failed to show the ability with the bat that led to his selection, he proved his athleticism and skill in the field.
Dean Elgar's diving catch, running back at fine leg and clinging on to a tough chance with his left hand, dismissed Jonathan Trott and drove a nail into the coffin of England's hopes. Trott and Ian Bell had added 64 in 69 balls to keep England's hopes alive, only for Trott to paddle a delivery from Morne Morkel towards fine leg. Initially it appeared as if Elgar, running in too far, has misjudged the catch and allowed the ball to pass well over his head. Instead, however, Elgar kept his eye on the ball, leapt to catch it with his favoured left hand and cushioned his landing with his right. While Elgar failed to show the ability with the bat that led to his selection, he proved his athleticism and skill in the field.
Drop of the day
With Matt Prior and Jonny Bairstow both pressing for his place, this was a bad day for Kieswetter to have a bad day. After a series of much-improved performances behind the stumps, though, Kieswetter endured a highly disappointing display with the gloves. Not only did he drop three chances, but he oversaw England's poor utilisation of the DRS - the wicketkeeper is the one man in ODI cricket in the perfect place to make the call about which decisions to review - and failed to make amends with the bat. His most costly drop came when Amla was on 42 and he offered a routine outside edge off the left-arm spin of Patel only for Kieswetter, rising too early behind the stumps, missed the chance.
With Matt Prior and Jonny Bairstow both pressing for his place, this was a bad day for Kieswetter to have a bad day. After a series of much-improved performances behind the stumps, though, Kieswetter endured a highly disappointing display with the gloves. Not only did he drop three chances, but he oversaw England's poor utilisation of the DRS - the wicketkeeper is the one man in ODI cricket in the perfect place to make the call about which decisions to review - and failed to make amends with the bat. His most costly drop came when Amla was on 42 and he offered a routine outside edge off the left-arm spin of Patel only for Kieswetter, rising too early behind the stumps, missed the chance.
Move of the day
It summed up the first 10 overs of the match - a period when England's bowlers looked capable of taking a wicket every few deliveries - when Graeme Smith edged a delivery from Tim Bresnan through the vacant second slip position. It was the second delivery of the ninth over and the first delivery of the match for which England had not had two slips. But is that poor fortune for England or, bearing in mind the run of play, poor captaincy?
It summed up the first 10 overs of the match - a period when England's bowlers looked capable of taking a wicket every few deliveries - when Graeme Smith edged a delivery from Tim Bresnan through the vacant second slip position. It was the second delivery of the ninth over and the first delivery of the match for which England had not had two slips. But is that poor fortune for England or, bearing in mind the run of play, poor captaincy?
Stat of the day 2
Since the start of the World Cup in 2011, de Villiers is averaging 107 in ODI cricket. In this game he also passed 5,000 ODI runs in fewer innings (124) than anyone in history except Sir Viv Richards (114), Brian Lara (118) and Gordon Greenidge (121). Which all makes it a bit surprising that he came in behind Dean Elgar, who was playing his first ODI innings.
Since the start of the World Cup in 2011, de Villiers is averaging 107 in ODI cricket. In this game he also passed 5,000 ODI runs in fewer innings (124) than anyone in history except Sir Viv Richards (114), Brian Lara (118) and Gordon Greenidge (121). Which all makes it a bit surprising that he came in behind Dean Elgar, who was playing his first ODI innings.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo