smashed through midwicket, game over!
South Africa vs England, 2nd ODI at Gqeberha, , Feb 06 2016 - Match Result
5.48pm A few thoughts from the presentations. First up, AB de Villiers. "We were about 20 short," he says. ""290-300 would have been ideal. I think JP got an unlucky one, they felt a little hard done-by, it was still a competitive total but credit to the opposition, they played a good game of cricket and out-thought us."
"It was a good cricket wicket throughout the 100 overs. No excuses, we were out-played."
Eoin Morgan: "Completely different conditions, the challenge today was adapting, the game was in the balance but Jos Buttler took the game into his own hands. We were very happy with 260, and given the way we've been playing with the bat, it was within range."
Morgan said he bowled his spinners straight through in a bid to get AB de Villiers out, which was a cunning captaincy ploy.
Unsurprisingly, the Man of the Match is Alex Hales for his 99: "A different sort of innings required today, we knew if we took it deep we'd get over the line. The Test series was difficult but I learnt a lot and since we switched to the white ball, it've felt in good touch."
So that is that. Join us again in Centurion on Tuesday for the third ODI, and have a read of David Hopps' match report. From myself and Alan Gardner, goodbye.
5.38pm Well, that was brisk. England's one-day renaissance shows no sign of slowing down ... actually, renaissance rather implies they were ever any good in the format (humble apologies to Goochie's class of 92, of course...). This is a team with the means to go a long, long way in the coming years. THey have class acts in all departments, and in Jos Buttler, a gun batsman who can win in style from any situation. Today was about Alex Hales' solidity at the top of the order, fine bowling from the spin twins, Moeen and Adil Rashid, and a career-best 4 for 50 from young Reece Topley. England are 2-0 up, and despite a return to form for AB de Villiers, South Africa were second-best by some distance again today.
soham: "amazing turnaround by the english team after wc debacle.never seen such a attacking positive english odi team before!cant say about 2019 wc because its too far but for 2017 champions trophy this team is alreasy a contender!" Troo dat ... and I wouldn't be surprised if they were contenders in the World Twenty20 too...
SanjayN: "Last 5 overs, 61 runs. Says it all. Well played, England, too good again for SA. Mumbai Indians got Buttler for a steal. Just compare the silly money that's been paid out for some seriously mediocre players."
Moeen's turn to have a mow! A typical range-hitting stand-and-deliver blow, straight back whence it came. One bounce and into the rope
a rare dot-ball, but too little too late, that is a massive 21-run over
flogged! Monstrous cross-batted assault, down on one knee, not a ring in sight though as Tahir is jilted into the stands, back over his head!
mowed over midwicket! Buttler can't be bothered to nudge and nurdle England to victory, he's got a long handle and he intends to use it!
big stride, head over the ball, clears the front leg, battered into the stands. Fetch!
Ali escapes the strike, as well he might
Hoover: "If Buttler isn't motivated to perform after earning many a pretty penny today, he never will be!" I'd have thought the reverse would be true. Stick on the shades and the dollar-shaped bling, and chill in the dug-out. I'm alright Jack ...
chipped in the air ... Berhardien at long-off galloped across but it is dropped! Think Jordan's catch but much easier ...
very full once again, Buttler gets in a tangle as he attempts to work the ball away. Good tight work
Swapnil: "Hales becomes the sixth batsman to get out in 99 in odi for england.. if I am using the statsguru right." Your skills have not let you down ...
on the pads, full again, worked into the leg side
dead-batted to mid-off, and a sharp call allows them to scamper home before the shy comes in
full and straight, Rabada doing all he can to keep South Africa in the hunt
driven off the back foot, but can't pick the gap
another single, England easing along now
crunched through backward square, and that is surely the game. A volley of runs, 12 in three balls, 16 off the over, and England's equation looks serene once again
slower ball, and that's a fine riposte, bunted through midwicket, and picks the gap nicely. Too short at that pace
edged, but the keeper can't intercept! Nothing you can do as a bowler about that, a perfect ball, climbing at the edge, but without a slip in place what can you do?
short, pulled through midwicket, a measured placement of a pull rather than a full-blooded mow
poked back down the pitch, Abbott gathers in his followthrough
Naman: "This is the beauty of such pitches. Most of the games on flat wickets are one-sided but on these kind of wickets, a 260 run target makes for a fantastic contest. You just never know what's gonna happen." Quite so. Four big overs from Abbott and Rabada, and who knows?
dabbed out to cover
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth | |
Toss | South Africa, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2015/16 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | England led the 5-match series 2-0 |
Match number | ODI no. 3734 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.00 start, First Session 10.00-13.30, Interval 13.30-14.15, Second Session 14.15-17.45 |
Match days | 6 February 2016 - day (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |