England win DRS lottery
Plays of the day from the second ODI between South Africa and England in Port Elizabeth
Firdose Moonda
06-Feb-2016
Alex Hales was dismissed one short of his second ODI century • Getty Images
Drop of the day
England kept the pressure on South Africa even as AB de Villiers and JP Duminy began to rebuild. Chris Jordan could have reaped the reward when Duminy tried to search for a boundary but his effort at a cut only resulted in a thick edge. Jos Buttler had to react quickly to move to his left and decided on attempting the catch one-handed and almost succeeded but the ball bobbled out of the glove as he tumbled. Jordan was already mid-celebration and had to halt his happiness while Buttler would have been hoping no one from Mumbai Indians, the IPL franchise that bought him for £385,000 earlier in the day, was watching.
England kept the pressure on South Africa even as AB de Villiers and JP Duminy began to rebuild. Chris Jordan could have reaped the reward when Duminy tried to search for a boundary but his effort at a cut only resulted in a thick edge. Jos Buttler had to react quickly to move to his left and decided on attempting the catch one-handed and almost succeeded but the ball bobbled out of the glove as he tumbled. Jordan was already mid-celebration and had to halt his happiness while Buttler would have been hoping no one from Mumbai Indians, the IPL franchise that bought him for £385,000 earlier in the day, was watching.
Catch of the day
If Jordan was disheartened by that moment, he didn't show it and put in the most committed of efforts to ensure Ben Stokes had a big scalp when de Villiers decided it was time to accelerate. After smacking Jordan for the first six of the innings, de Villiers tried to send Stokes over the leg side but did not get as much meat on the shot as he would have liked. The ball went high but not that long and swirled above Jordan, who was on the edge of the ring at midwicket. He had to run back and keep an eye over his shoulder but managed to take a stunner to stop the South Africa captain.
If Jordan was disheartened by that moment, he didn't show it and put in the most committed of efforts to ensure Ben Stokes had a big scalp when de Villiers decided it was time to accelerate. After smacking Jordan for the first six of the innings, de Villiers tried to send Stokes over the leg side but did not get as much meat on the shot as he would have liked. The ball went high but not that long and swirled above Jordan, who was on the edge of the ring at midwicket. He had to run back and keep an eye over his shoulder but managed to take a stunner to stop the South Africa captain.
Technological savvy of the day
Duminy was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball that was missing leg stump when South Africa had no reviews left and, to rub salt in the wound, England had better luck with technology. They appealed for a catch off Rilee Rossouw after they thought he had inside-edged Reece Topley to Buttler, who collected the ball low down, and they were proved right. Although there was no obvious deflection and Ultra Edge did not seem to differentiate between the ball passing the bat and the bat hitting the ground, the officials decided there was enough evidence to send Rossouw on his way.
Duminy was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball that was missing leg stump when South Africa had no reviews left and, to rub salt in the wound, England had better luck with technology. They appealed for a catch off Rilee Rossouw after they thought he had inside-edged Reece Topley to Buttler, who collected the ball low down, and they were proved right. Although there was no obvious deflection and Ultra Edge did not seem to differentiate between the ball passing the bat and the bat hitting the ground, the officials decided there was enough evidence to send Rossouw on his way.
Technological savvy of the day (again)
England continued to make good use of the DRS when Joe Root used it to save himself after being given out lbw off Kagiso Rabada. Had Root walked off, England would have been 23 for 2 in the sixth over but, after careful thought, Root decided to ask for the review. The replays showed that Root had not played the best shot all around his front pad but that the ball was going to miss leg stump. Root had was on 2 at the time and the reprieve cost South Africa another 36 runs.
England continued to make good use of the DRS when Joe Root used it to save himself after being given out lbw off Kagiso Rabada. Had Root walked off, England would have been 23 for 2 in the sixth over but, after careful thought, Root decided to ask for the review. The replays showed that Root had not played the best shot all around his front pad but that the ball was going to miss leg stump. Root had was on 2 at the time and the reprieve cost South Africa another 36 runs.
Anti-climax of the day
Alex Hales survived a tight opening spell from Kyle Abbott, a review when Quinton de Kock was convinced he had edged Farhaan Behardien and a mini collapse when England lost 3 for 59 but he could not survive his own anxiety to get to three figures. Abbott sent down a short one and Hales went on the pull but only managed to flick the ball to de Kock in his follow through after it deflected up off his thigh. South Africa appealed, Hales looked guilty and after a wait that seemed much longer than was necessary, the umpire's finger went up.
Alex Hales survived a tight opening spell from Kyle Abbott, a review when Quinton de Kock was convinced he had edged Farhaan Behardien and a mini collapse when England lost 3 for 59 but he could not survive his own anxiety to get to three figures. Abbott sent down a short one and Hales went on the pull but only managed to flick the ball to de Kock in his follow through after it deflected up off his thigh. South Africa appealed, Hales looked guilty and after a wait that seemed much longer than was necessary, the umpire's finger went up.
Drop of the day II
England were on the cusp of taking control of the match, with just 29 runs needed off the last five overs, when Moeen Ali went aerial off Imran Tahir. But Moeen did not time the shot and Behardien was in business. He had to move in from long-off but misjudged the distance and found himself fumbling the ball straight downwards. It seemed not just Behardien but South Africa as the group were winded with that and the match ended seven balls later.
England were on the cusp of taking control of the match, with just 29 runs needed off the last five overs, when Moeen Ali went aerial off Imran Tahir. But Moeen did not time the shot and Behardien was in business. He had to move in from long-off but misjudged the distance and found himself fumbling the ball straight downwards. It seemed not just Behardien but South Africa as the group were winded with that and the match ended seven balls later.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent