Well, that’s enough from me. It’s been a run-fest in Bloemfontein, with South Africa nicking it in the final over to take the series too. There’s still one more match left to play, with the two sides to meet in Kimberley on Wednesday.
I’ll leave you with the words of Neil Manthorp:
There was another England side that played in South Africa today, with the U19 women’s team taking on India in the World Cup final. Shafali Verma’s India were the victors, securing a seven-wicket win after bowling England out for 68.
Temba Bavuma is Player of the Match after that wonderful and important hundred.
This is a MASSIVE win for South Africa in the context of the World Cup Super League, their transition period, Bavuma's captaincy and morale in the game. The highest successful chase in Bloem and their third-highest ever. A series win and points to get to India.#SAvENG #cricket
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) January 29, 2023
Not pretty reading for England. They’ve lost five ODIs on the bounce and haven’t won a series in the format since their visit to the Netherlands last summer; India, Australia and now South Africa have brushed the world champions aside.
South Africa win by five wickets!
The fielders are in and just one ball from Woakes is required; the phenomenal David Miller sends the ball over long-off for six to finish the match. It’s been a wonderful display from the hosts with the bat, led by Temba Bavuma’s century and supported by pretty much everyone else – the lowest score by a South African batter was a 19-ball 27 from Heinrich Klaasen.
Updated
49th over: South Africa 341-5 (Miller 52, Jansen 32)
Curran is the man tasked with bowling the penultimate over and after a couple of singles, Jansen cross-bats the ball down the ground to collect two. Eight needed from nine.
Curran then produces a yorker, but Jansen digs it out to deep midwicket and puts those long legs to good use by racing back for two. A precious dot for England follows, but Jansen delivers at the end, thumping the ball through the covers for four.
South Africa need two off the final over to win the match and series.
48th over: South Africa 331-5 (Jansen 23, Miller 51) Stone is in for his last over of the day and… Miller is dropped! It’s a full toss from Stone and Miller clubs it, with Moeen leaping spectacularly at short cover but unable to hold on. It would’ve been an all-timer if he’d pulled it off. Stone continues to persist, pulling off consecutive dots against Jansen before an inside-edge runs to fine leg… and there’s no fielder there! Buttler has to run himself to stop the ball running away to the boundary. A leg-side wide is followed by another dot.
12 needed from 12.
47th over: South Africa 325-5 (Jansen 19, Miller 50) After a dot, Jansen punches to long-off to bring Miller on strike against Curran. The left-armer beats the left-hander’s swing with a wide cutter, before Miller carves through the off side for one. It’s suddenly become a game of singles, the boundaries drying up, the pressure perhaps taking over. Miller manages to find a couple to bring up his half-century off just 33 balls. A quality knock.
South Africa need 18 from 18.
46th over: South Africa 320-5 (Jansen 17, Miller 47) Stone launches his thunderbolts, limiting Jansen to five dots in a row – Adil Rashid helps out with the pressure-building by pulling off a brilliant stop at midwicket. A single finishes things.
45th over: South Africa 319-5 (Miller 47, Jansen 16) It’s Topley who has the ball now, with the game steadily running away from the grasp of Jos Buttler’s men. Three singles are followed by a Jansen clip that brings two. Jansen then clubs a full toss to long-off for one before Topley loses control with his final delivery, the ball going wide and over waist-high – it’s a free hit. And Miller doesn’t miss out, receiving a full toss that he smashes for a straight six.
That should be the game.
44th over: South Africa 306-5 (Miller 39, Jansen 12) A misfield gifts South Africa a couple off the first ball of Rashid’s final over and, not long after, Jansen gets on one leg to slog-sweep for six and move South Africa past 300.
43rd over: South Africa 294-5 (Jansen 2, Miller 37) Miller shuffles across to the off side to sweep Moeen hard for four off the third ball of the over. The batters keep on running to make it 10 off the over.
42nd over: South Africa 284-5 (Miller 29, Jansen 1) A slip comes in for Marco Jansen, the new batter at the crease. Rashid closes the over with a wonderful leg-break that beats Jansen’s bat and clips the pad. England, with five wickets still required, still have some hope.
Updated
WICKET! Markram b Rashid 49 (South Africa 280-5)
Oh Adil Rashid, that is different class. It’s a googly from the wizard, and Markram doesn’t come close to reading it as it breaks through and rattles the stumps.
Updated
41st over: South Africa 280-4 (Markram 47, Miller 28) Curran avoids any serious punishment, but Miller and Markram still manage to knock it about for ones and twos, narrowing the requirement to 63 from 54. I think Buttler may need to bring Stone back in the next couple of overs for a wicket because it’s looking like a very comfortable chase now for South Africa.
40th over: South Africa 273-4 (Makram 45, Miller 23) Topley rolls his fingers across the ball to take off the pace, but Markram doesn’t mind waitin’: he lets the arms loose to smash the ball through the covers for four. Three singles follow before Miller makes room to hit a full Topley delivery over point for six! That’s a ridiculous shot.
39th over: South Africa 260-4 (Markram 39, Miller 16) Miller and Markram run hard for a pair of couples as Sam Curran puts a stop to the steady flow of boundaries. South Africa need 83 from 11 overs.
Pace, pace and pace
Olly Stone fully fit is such a valuable addition to the England ODI bowling line-up, offering pace and wicket-taking threat in the middle overs.
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) January 29, 2023
Opens up possibility of England taking Stone, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to the ODI World Cup, and picking 2 90mph quicks each game.
38th over: South Africa 254-4 (Miller 11, Markram 38) Stone races in and has to watch the ball fly over mid-off as Markram picks up another boundary.
37th over: South Africa 246-4 (Markram 32, Miller 9) Moeen twirls away, conceding five singles before David Miller brings the noise, sweeping hard for a boundary to win the over for the Proteas.
36th over: South Africa 237-4 (Markram 29, Miller 3) Stone has been very, very impressive so far today, picking up 2-33 with three overs still left in the bag.
WICKET! Klaasen c Buttler b Stone 27 (South Africa 233-4)
Got ‘im! Stone goes wide, Klaasen’s eyes light up, but the drive leads to an edge and Buttler leaps to his right to pull off a stunner. We’re on for a proper finish!
Updated
35th over: South Africa 233-3 (Klaasen 27, Markram 28) This might be the best shot of the innings so far: Topley goes short from over the wicket and Markram’s pull is perfect, the ball flying away for six more.
34th over: South Africa 224-3 (Klaasen 25, Markram 21) Stone, England’s best bowler so far today, replaces Woakes and is on the end of another thumping shot from Klaasen: it’s just about in the slot and Klaasen pumps the ball to the long-on boundary for four.
33rd over: South Africa 218-3 (Markram 20, Klaasen 20) Topley replaces Rashid at the other end and is too leg-sidish, with Klassen flicking away to fine leg for four. He then clubs Topley down the ground with a baseball-style swing for another boundary.
32nd over: South Africa 205-3 (Markram 17, Klaasen 10) An extraordinary shot from Markram: he shimmies down the pitch to Woakes before clipping a ball off his hips for six!
31st over: South Africa 194-3 (Markram 9, Klaasen 6) Markram and Klaasen take their turns in picking up singles, seeing Rashid off for seven in the over.
30th over: South Africa 187-3 (Markram 6, Klaasen 3) Chris Woakes is back and gets hit straight down the ground off his first ball, Markram getting off the mark with a boundary. Twenty overs to go and South Africa still need 156 runs.
WICKET! van der Dussen c Moeen b Rashid 38 (South Africa 178-3)
Van der Dussen tries the reverse sweep off Rashid and gets nowhere near it – England plead for an lbw but the umpire doesn’t budge. Buttler decides to go upstairs… and the leg-break is turning too much. The ball is projected to spin comfortably past off stump.
Van der Dussen then decides to go for a conventional sweep and pulls it off – the ball races to the boundary for four. He then tries the reverse-sweep again… and finds Moeen Ali at backward point! South Africa’s two set batters have gone in the space of two overs.
29th over: South Africa 178-3 (Markram 0, Klaasen 0)
Updated
28th over: South Africa 174-2 (van der Dussen 34, Markram 0) Aiden Markram is the new man in and he can’t get Curran away. A wicket maiden.
WICKET! Bavuma b Curran 109 (South Africa 174-2)
Bavuma goes! He tries to scoop Curran but ends up directing the ball onto his own stumps. It’s quite the celebration from Curran, who roars in the face of the departing batter. It probably shows just how much England needed to get back in this match and series.
Updated
27th over: South Africa 174-1 (Bavuma 109, van der Dussen 34) Bavuma showcases his athleticism with the paddle sweep, rolling away on the ground after he dances across his crease to make contact and pick up a couple.
26th over: South Africa 169-1 (Bavuma 105, van der Dusen 33) A quiet one as Curran concedes just three.
Colum Fordham writes in: “Even though I root for England, I am delighted to see Bavuma get a truly sizeable knock. He’s been seeing the ball so clearly and playing some gorgeous shots - a true captain’s innings (rivalling Jos Buttler’s responsible 94 n.o.). And this cannot be bad for England as practice for the World Cup. Great match thus far.”
Updated
Century for Bavuma!
Bavuma slaps Rashid through the covers for four and brings up the ton! And that’s a cracking celebration, showing everybody the name on the back of the shirt like Nasser at Lord’s more than 20 years ago. The adrenaline of it all must surely help with that injury.
25th over: South Africa 164-1 (Bavuma 103, van der Dussen 30)
Updated
24th over: South Africa 155-1 (Bavuma 96, van der Dussen 28) Bavuma is getting closer to the landmark, but he’s been hobbling around the last few overs – not a great sign when there’s still plenty of work left to do. There’s a physio on the field now, working away at Bavuma’s legs.
Here’s that little bit of drama from earlier; nothing too crazy but who doesn’t love a bit of stump mic goss.
Jos Buttler and Rassie van der Dussen share a heated exchange 😳 pic.twitter.com/mwcPzkzCwy
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 29, 2023
Elsewhere, India have made history!
Congratulations to the first ever champions of the Women's #U19T20WorldCup! 🏆🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/hSE7Z6l4tW
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2023
23rd over: South Africa 153-1 (van der Dussen 27, Bavuma 95) Rashid tosses one up and Bavuma produces a wonderful lofted drive for four. South Africa’s captain is in the nineties, closing in on his third ODI hundred.
22nd over: South Africa 145-1 (Bavuma 89, van der Dussen 25) Bavuma clips away to fine leg for another boundary, this time off the returning Sam Curran.
21st over: South Africa 138-1 (Bavuma 83, van der Dussen 24) A comeback of sorts from Rashid, as he manages to keep the damage to three singles.
20th over: South Africa 135-1 (Bavuma 81, van der Dussen 23) Bavuma cuts Stone for four more, and South Africa are really piling them on now.
19th over: South Africa 129-1 (van der Dussen 22, Bavuma 76) Not a great start from Rashid after drinks, with Bavuma pulling away a long hop to move into the seventies. Buttler then tries to get to the ball after it lobs up off van der Dussen’s pad via an inside edge. The pair exchange words following a small coming-together, and there’s a shout from the umpire to move on with the game. It’s a little bit fiery out there. Bavuma then picks up another boundary.
Updated
18th over: South Africa 119-1 (Bavuma 67, van der Dussen 21) Stone makes another ball leap violently and Bavuma gets out of the way in spectacular style with an acrobatic leap. The quick then rattles Bavuma’s glove before van der Dussen bites back, smashing a pull for six.
17th over: South Africa 110-1 (Bavuma 65, van der Dussen 14) Adil Rashid is in the game and instantly you can see the drift through the air, plenty of revs on that leg-break. Bavuma is smart in his use of the crease and, well, this is unusual – Buttler is standing behind the stumps on the leg-side before shifting to his right. He does it to van der Dussen too, who finishes the over with a boundary.
16th over: South Africa 100-1 (van der Dussen 8, Bavuma 61) Stone thunders in for another over, but it’s a little less electrifying this time round. South Africa bring up three figures.
The first one to go:
Great catch from Ben Duckett to dismiss Quinton de Kock 💪 pic.twitter.com/WlZAwIMZDq
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 29, 2023
15th over: South Africa 95-1 (van der Dussen 5, Bavuma 59) van der Dussen collects his first runs off a Curran slower ball, driving through the covers for four. Curran then bowls a short cutter to Bavuma, who pulls away for another boundary. Bavuma gets lucky off the final ball of the over, slashing hard to produce an inside-edge that evades the stumps and Buttler, too. Four more.
14th over: South Africa 82-1 (van der Dussen 0, Bavuma 51) Woah, what happened there? Stone races in and gets the ball to explode off the pitch and leap over Bavuma’s attempted backfoot punch. Sizzling work from the express quick. And then another one leaps off the surface, and Bavuma, who has batted beautifully so far, suddenly looks as if he’s got a challenge on his hands. A maiden from Stone – top-class bowling.
Updated
Fifty for Temba Bavuma!
A crunching pull for four takes Bavuma to a half-century off 47 balls. The sound off the bat there was laaaavely.
13th over: South Africa 82-1 (Bavuma 51, van der Dussen 0)
WICKET! de Kock c Duckett b Stone 31 (South Africa 77-1)
Olly Stone’s extra pace is called upon and he strikes Quinton de Kock in an area you’d rather not get hit. And then he’s out off the very next ball! De Kock tries to whip away for a big one over deep square leg but Ben Duckett manages to dive forward and hold on.
12th over: South Africa 77-1 (Bavuma 46, van der Dussen 0)
Updated
11th over: South Africa 74-0 (Bavuma 43, de Kock 31) De Kock brings out the reverse sweep against Moeen Ali and secures back-to-back boundaries with it. Gorgeous stuff, really.
10th over: South Africa 64-0 (de Kock 22, Bavuma 42) Topley continues and gets away with a wide delivery that Bavuma can only edge to third man for a single. A quiet over as Topley concedes just three.
9th over: South Africa 61-0 (de Kock 20, Bavuma 41) England need something a little different and it’s Moeen Ali who gets the ball. Bavuma picks up a couple by cutting through the off side, and a single follows with a flick through midwicket. De Kock then picks up a single for himself.
Updated
8th over: South Africa 57-0 (Bavuma 38, de Kock 19) An outside edge from de Kock is followed by an inside edge, but he survives as Topley persists. Bavuma sneaks a single from the last ball of the over to stay on strike.
7th over: South Africa 54-0 (Bavuma 36, de Kock 18) Maybe de Kock is fine! Woakes goes just a bit short and the left-hander smokes a pull for six. Back-to-back boundaries follow, although the last one comes off de Kock’s shoulder as he fails to nail the pull. Top start for South Africa as they bring up 50 inside just seven overs.
6th over: South Africa 39-0 (Bavuma 35, de Kock 4) Bavuma is running the show here, which is perfect for South Africa as de Kock is clearly in a bit of trouble with that thumb injury.
5th over: South Africa 33-0 (de Kock 3, Bavuma 30) Woakes briefly pulls back Bavuma’s exuberance, landing three dots on the trot. But then he’s too short and too straight, and Bavuma helps the ball past fine leg for another boundary.
4th over: South Africa 29-0 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 3) Bavuma hits the first six of the South African innings, whipping Topley off his pads. And then there’s a drive through the covers for four – the skipper is looking in very fine touch.
3rd over: South Africa 18-0 (Bavuma 15, de Kock 3) Lovely from Bavuma, who lets the hands loose to pull for four before straight-driving the next ball for another boundary. De Kock tries out a scoop with the final ball of the over but doesn’t get the desired contact, fetching just a couple.
2nd over: South Africa 7-0 (Bavuma 6, de Kock 1) Nice to see Reece Topley back for England after missing the World Cup win due to a last-minute injury. The mullet, I regretfully must say, is gone. A hint of swing and three off it; a tidy start from the left-armer.
1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Bavuma 3, de Kock 1) Quinton de Kock, still battling with that blow to the thumb, can’t get the ball off the middle until the fourth of the over, when he bunts one to cover to pick up a quick single. Bavuma closes the set by flicking to the leg-side for three.
Updated
Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma stroll out to the middle, and it’s Chris Woakes who has the new ball. 343 to win. Let’s play!
I’ve got one eye here and the other on Potchefstroom, where England’s U19s are in trouble against India in the World Cup final.
England have lost half their side at the ten-over mark 👀
— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2023
Watch the Women's #U19T20WorldCup final for FREE on https://t.co/CPDKNxpgZ3 (in select regions) 📺
📝 https://t.co/mayifyqVWJ pic.twitter.com/4U1PJQb3xE
Thanks Tanya, good to be here. Runs for Jos and Mo, but I just very briefly want to talk about Harry. The wristiness is special but the thing that stands out to me is how quick those hands move on the hooks and pulls to guide the ball behind square. He’s just loads of fun. Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest.
Feel free to get in touch and keep me company for the next few hours.
A lengthy innings there, aided by sluggish over rate and injury to de Kock, and South Africa might yet be rapped over the knuckles with a fine. Some good news for them though – de Kock hasn’t broken anything so will be fit and eager to open the batting. England weathered the tricky early overs – the new ball, swing and bounce – to produce a cracking total. Fabulous batting in parts – cautiously brutal from Buttler, joyfully brutal from Moeen and brutally brutal from Harry Brook. Time for me to shift my backside from the sofa and hand you over to Taha Hashim, who will guide you through the rest of the game. Thanks for all the messages, bye!
Updated
England 342-7 (Buttler 94, Adil Rashid 0)
50th over: England 342-7 (Buttler 94, A Rashid 0) Two leg byes, five wides and seven off Buttler’s bat to give England a flourishing total – especially after they were inserted into tricky conditions on a sticky pitch.
WICKET! Curran c Klaasen b Nortje 28 (England 329-7)
A fabulous catch by the stand-in keeper – sucked up low and to his left as Curran toe-ends the ball.
49th over: England 328-6 (Buttler 87, S Curran 28) Three boundaries off Ngidi’s final over – who has been rather leaky at the back end of his spell. Curran clubs six, Buttler wang-bangs four and Curran is nearly brilliant caught from a whallop off his pads, a motoring Maharaj just falling short of the ball.
48th over: England 312-6 (Buttler 83, S Curran 17) Jansen finishes his excellent spell with a spot-on yorker, to finish with 65-1. England can’t get him to the rope, but nudge seven from the over.
On Buttler:
I don't agree. When Buttler came in, England were 3 down. 298 was enough the other night. Brook - and then Ali - were going well. So Buttler ticked over, let them take risks and will look to go hard now.
— Phil Harrison (@MrPMHarrison) January 29, 2023
When Root is back, he will do that job. But until then, someone has to.
47th over: England 307-6 (Buttler 80, S Curran 16) Buttler has had enough of this faffing and deposits Ngidi first for a wristy four, then out of the ground. Ball lost. Curran then brutally ignores my previous comment to slam two sixes, one with a brutal horizonal bat, another with a classy vertical one. Into the three hundreds we go. Eighteen balls left.
46th over: England 279-6 (Buttler 66, S Curran 3) Super bowling again, this time from Jansen – recently handed the emerging ICC men’s cricketer of 2022 award – a yorker, a slower ball, a short ball – called wide. And just three from the over including the extra. Curran, who has not been cracking the flags in the SA20, missing his usual early pizzazz.
Buttler has been in 27 overs for his 65 not out @tjaldred - is that a case of a captain (off the back of a collapse on Friday) feeling the need to anchor the innings? If so, Root would do it better (or an unretired Stokes) and Buttler could join the good time guys swinging.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) January 29, 2023
45th over: England 279-6 (Buttler 66, S Curran 3) Excellent from Parnell, restricting England to three from the over, including a fabulous yorker that Buttler can do nothing with.
44th over: England 276-6(Buttler 65, S Curran 1) A Woakes parry down to third man crosses the rope thanks to Jansen tripping over his own shadow in the deep. He manages a couple more before holing out for a greater cause. Enter IPL MVP Sam Curran.
“Any idea why TMS isn’t being broadcast today?” asks Paul Youd. Paul, this series is on talksport – you can pick it up online or digital radio.
WICKET! Woakes c Klaasen b Jansen 14 (England 275-6)
Woakes reverses into his car parking space, swings and chops the ball into the hands of the leaping keeper.
43rd over: England 269-5 (Buttler 65, Woakes 8) Woakes manages seven from the over, including a boundary off the pads, but Buttler twiddles his thumbs at the other end. Woakes pinches the strike again.
This is Moeen's highest ODI score (and first 50) since Sept 2017, which is 46 innings ago. Probably a reflection of his batting at No. 7 most of the time.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) January 29, 2023
42nd over: England 262-5 (Buttler 65, Woakes 1) Crucial parsimony from Nortje after that Moeen wicket, Woakes managing only a single to steal the strike.
WICKET! Moeen b Nortje 51 (England 251-5)
Moeen throws a great shape, but inside edges a slower ball into his own stumps. A forthright, up and at em, run-rate nudging innings, built from a quiet period.
Updated
41st over: England 261-4 (Buttler 65, Moeen Ali 51) The carnage continues as the returning Parnell is whalloped for ten in his first two balls as Buttler checks his ammunition stash. Another is cracked into Parnell’s boot as he follows through. A clearly hurt Parnell then stops in his run-up to pull off his boot and check the state of his toes, revealing a surprisingly colourful patterned sock.
Fifty for Moeen Ali!
40th over: England 248-4 (Buttler 50, Moeen Ali 54) Nortje gets the Moeen treatment with three fours off the over, velvet glove and claw hammer. That, I learn, is his first ODI fifty since 2017.
Updated
39th over: England 234-4 (Buttler 54, Moeen Ali 36) Jansen finding sheer bounce, but South Africa are out of luck, a penalty run as the ball hits Klaasen’s discarded glove. Moeen on-drives with panache for four, A bouncer keels into his left elbow and then my television inexplicably switches off so I can’t give you much detail but England are on the charge.
I feel I need to keep posting these fantastic top tips as a public service broadcast:
Håkan Burden “I attach a safey pin to one end of the string and then push the pin along the channel. It takes patience but usually works.”
and
@tjaldred Push the string through a straw, fold it over, then push the straw through the hole in the shorts.
— Rupert Higham (@rupert_higham) January 29, 2023
38th over: England 217-4 (Buttler 54, Moeen Ali 31) Moeen pulls one of his uglier shots out of the bag, but what the heck, it works, slamming Ngidi’s slower ball back over his head. Ngidi tightens up and only two more from the over.
“Remove string completely,” writes Andre. “Knot one end of string to the hook of a crochet needle (or similar). Push/pull the crochet needle (with attached string) through the space.” Thank you all. Now if someone could just engineer a quick break in play I’d be very grateful.
37th over: England 211-4 (Buttler 53, Moeen Ali 26) Charming, just charming, from Moeen who, with perfect balance, swings Jansen through extra cover for four.
Thank you for more shorts advice: Peter Polonius: “Attach some thread to a large blunt needle. Attach other end to the string of the shorts. Work the needle carefully through the string path, then untie. Should work.” John Starbuck recommends a largish safety pin.
36th over: England 202-4 (Buttler 51, Moeen Ali 19) Ngidi proving tricky to get away, but England gratefully accept a wide to bring up the double century.
Fifty for Jos Buttler!
35th over: England 197-4 (Buttler 50, Moeen Ali 17) A couple of styling boundaries keep England ticking along – as Moeen drops to one knee and flurries the ball over the rope and Buttler eases a reverse sweep. His fifty comes up off what has seemed a sedate 49 balls.
Short rethreading advice from Gary Smith: “attach said string just behind the forelegs of a bay mouse, introduce mouse to string channel in shorts, place cheese at the end.... BINGO.... possibly.” I like it, but I’m afraid I don’t know what a bay mouse is…
Updated
34th over: England 184-4 (Buttler 44, Moeen Ali 10) Ngidi returns, to pound the clod. Moeen has a reckless flurry, and misses. He is another in the Jason Roy class – the thrusting young things are knocking at the door and England will have to gamble soon on whether he is in the World Cup plans. Come on Mo, lets have a perfect cameo.
33rd over: England 181-4 (Buttler 42, Moeen Ali 9) A chance for South Africa, as Buttler tips the ball up and past the leaping hands of Maharaj in his follow through. I don’t think he got his fingers to it, just mistimed the leap. Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock has been dispatched for an x-ray.
Updated
32nd over: England 177-4 (Buttler 40, Moeen Ali 7) Buttler hits his grove, dispatching Markram for a hooping six and then four through the covers in successive balls. Incidentally, does anyone have a handy tip toonrethreading the string of a pair of football shorts?
31st over: England 164-4 (Buttler 29, Moeen Ali 5) Buttler survies a waft in the cover area as Maharaj pins England down.
Thank you to Tim de Lisle who has sent me this telling stat: England’s top three, off 66 balls: 41-3; Harry Brook, off his first 66 balls: 73-0
Updated
30th over: England 161-4 (Buttler 28, Moeen Ali 3) Markram doesn’t give England much to work with and Buttler can’t get any welly on a free hit. With 20 overs to go, the run-rate hovers at 5.36. Time for drinks - the South Africans seem to be carrying out a plate of cut up oranges – or is is mango?
Hello Robert Wilson! “Brook really, really cheers me up. He’s incredibly good at being young. He radiates it and some of the rest of us catch his rays. I’m doing push-ups here.”
You’re so right, he nails it, as the cameras pan over to him sitting in his shorts and t-shirt in the shade, slurping from a bottle. And well done on the press-ups.
29th over: England 158-4 (Buttler 27, Moeen Ali 2) Maharaj shimmies through an over while everyone takes a breath.
28th over: England 156-4 (Buttler 25, Moeen Ali 1) Markram makes the breakthrough to his delight – amazing how that feels like a crucial moment in the innings despite Brook only playing in his second ODI. Back to the old timers, as Moeen joins Buttler in the middle.
WICKET! Brook c van der Dussen b Markram 80 (England 155-4)
Static in the crease, Brook tries to clear the cover boundary but instead fires the ball into van der Dussen’s chest. He stalks off the pitch – perhaps he expected a century as much as the rest of us.
Updated
27th over: England 154-3 ( Brook 80, Buttler 25) Parnell restores some calm as England risk a tight single, the only other runs coming from a leg bye.
26th over: England 152-3 ( Brook 79, Buttler 25) A sense of desperation from South Africa, who go upstairs after Buttler fumbles a reverse-sweep – it’s glove not bat. Meanwhile Brook springs another four through the covers.
Some player is Harry Brook. Gives the spinner no margin AT ALL. This is not short. Yet dispatched easily for 6. super 50 on second odi outing pic.twitter.com/MwnAdOmYvs
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 29, 2023
Updated
25th over: England 144-3 ( Brook 73, Buttler 23) Brook pivots on his boot caps, angles the bat and fires the returning Parnell for six over midwicket. Four more to finish the over, this time bisecting the ground, and with Buttler content in the supporting role, the run-rate nears six.
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24th over: England 134-3 ( Brook 63, Buttler 23) Nortje paws the ground and fizzes balls up noses. England calmly pick up three. The dog wakes up, sees we’re not yet half way through the innings, and goes back to sleep.
“Morning Tanya, KC and the Sunshine band’s Give it Up came on the radio and the chorus fits Na na na na na Harry Brook incredibly well. I’d like to apologise to all the readers trying it out in their heads whenever they hear Harry Brook mentioned again.”
Thank you for that earworm, Andy Bradshaw.
23rd over: England 131-3 ( Brook 61, Buttler 22) Ten from Maharaj’s over as Brook eyes up a spot in the crowd, bends the back knee balletically and slams the ball into the spectators. Brutal.
A duck on debut and fifty in his second game. Harry Brook has played a nice little innings so far. Crucial for England after a fairly slow start. Also, we've only had 21 overs in nearly two hours. There are points docked for slow over rates & South Africa need points. #SAvENG
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) January 29, 2023
22nd over: England 121-3 ( Brook 52, Buttler 18) Nortje has his gander up, and Brook gambles with a dirty swipe into the leg side that falls between fielders.
Fifty for Harry Brook!
21st over: England 118-3 ( Brook 52, Buttler 18) Fifty for Harry Brook in only his second ODI – what a sublime start he’s having to his international career in every format. He griddle pans Maharaj over deep midwicket for six, then he and Buttler alternated the strike.
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20th over: England 104-3 ( Brook 42, Buttler 16) Buttler looking dangerously in form, four off Nortje’s first ball, through the covers to the rope with ease. The Bs nudge and wink easy runs. Some fabulously athletic fielding by Parnell cuts off an edge from Buttler, he flew across the rope and dipped to cut it off with a couple of fingers.
“In these more gender neutral times, am I alone in wondering about the nomenclature of “maiden” especially when applied to a fast and furious one (11th over)?” asks Brian Withington. “Can the collective OBO mind hive offer a more appropriate alternative?”
I think the OBO hive mind may be resting.
19th over: England 94-3 ( Brook 37, Buttler 9) Buttler eases into a couple of reverse sweeps off Maharaj – and nails the second which shimmies through backward point to the rope.
18th over: England 88-3 ( Brook 36, Buttler 4) This will be South Africa’s biggest test – with the king and the young pretender at the crease. Jansen keeps things tight.
17th over: England 82-3 ( Brook 35, Buttler 1) The first over of spin brings a wicket, as the long and lean Maharaj temps Duckett into a somewhat reckless hit over the top. Buttler eases into a calm single. The current run rate hovers at just under five an over.
An email! Hello John Starbuck. “Good morning, Tanya. Just finished breakfast (one avocado and apple juice to go with the morning medicines), but what is the best South African breakfast?
From my visit two decades ago for the 2003 World Cup, meals seemed very heavy on the meat.
WICKET! Duckett c sub (Malan) b Maharaj 20 (England 82-3)
Duckett has a brain doodle and clips the ball up but not long enough and the ball falls gently into the hands of the sub fielder at long on.
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16th over: England 81-2 (Duckett 20, Brook 34) After going off the pitch to rummage around for his kit, Klassen takes over from the injured de Kock behind the stumps. Jansen continues and England tick and tock six from the over. The pitch, as promised, seems to be easing a bit.
15th over: England 75-2 (Duckett 16, Brook 32) First blood to Nortje, with a ball that frightens into Brook’s glove, nudging his mouth into an involuntary 0 of surprise. A couple of balls later, Nortje disappears high and over the boundary into the braai smoke, next ball same spot but along the ground. Brook has a wild swing at the last which hits de Kock on the hand. He immediately falls to his knees and pulls his gloves off…. oof, that looks painful. The physio comes out and after a brief consultation walks off with de Kock. We wait to see who will take over behind the stumps.
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14th over: England 63-2 (Duckett 15, Brook 21) The drinks seem to have refreshed England, and Brook ramps Jansen’s first post-refreshment delivery to the boundary.
Guy Hornsby – I don’t think you’re the only one to have forgotten about this series (delayed from Covid and squished into the schedule).
Morning @tjaldred, to a match in a series I keep forgetting is happening (all focus on the U19 women today!). Good to see these two in, I'd love for Brook and Duckett to get big runs, though I believe by even saying so I've probably guaranteed a wicket, but I'd settle for a 50.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) January 29, 2023
13th over: England 56-2 (Duckett 14, Brook 15) A screaming bit of fielding by Bavuma sees Duckett scrambling on his tummy as his races to the non-striker’s end, but the ball bounces wide. A sublime four by Brook off a full bunger from Nortje and that is drinks!
Over in Potchefstroom, England take on India in the final of the Women’s U-19 World Cup, starting at 11.45 this morning.
Massive good luck to these girls! Already proved the future of England women’s cricket is shining brighter than ever! 🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/Afn2p88mGR
— Tammy Beaumont (@Tammy_Beaumont) January 29, 2023
12th over: England 50-2 (Duckett 13, Brook 10) After an uneasy hack past the stumps, Brook pulls out a cracker, perfectly balanced and whistled through point . Beaten next ball by Jansen’s prodigious bounce.
11th over: England 42-2 (Duckett 13, Brook 2) Change at both ends, with Nortje snorting in. Fast, furious and a maiden.
10th over: England 42-2 (Duckett 13, Brook 2) Bavuma throws the ball to Jansen, and the camera pans back to show the amusing height gulf between the two: a daisy next to a daffodil. A tasty first over, with England’s batters cautious, though Duckett collects three through the covers.
Spot on from Mickey Arthur and Jon Norman on @Cricket_TS just now on the depth of talent in county cricket
— Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) January 29, 2023
9th over: England 39-2 (Duckett 10, Brook 2) How cricket should be watched,:on the grass, under a sun umbrella, with a cold drink. Ten thousand tickets sold for today’s match and the crowd starting to build. Three from Parnell’s fifth.
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8th over: England 35-2 (Duckett 7, Brook 2) A quiet over from Ngidi.
7th over: England 34-2 (Duckett 6, Brook 1) Enjoying this South African attack so much – a shame that their men’s team have only 28 Tests lined up in the next four years.
“Good morning Tanya! Kim Thonger, hello!
“I see that Associated Press have been rapped on the knuckles for advising journalists to say ‘people from France’ rather than ‘The French’. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jan/28/ap-issues-clarification-over-its-advice-not-to-use-term-the-french
“Do you think this applies also to Australia? Shall I be obliged to say (if it happens) ‘we thrashed the citizenry of Australia in The Ashes’, rather than ‘we whupped The Aussie arse’?”
WICKET! Malan lbw Parnell 12 (England 33-2)
Parnell screws one into Malan’s back pad – the ball stays low and steady.
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6th over: England 28-1 (Duckett 1, Malan 12) A sensational over from Ngidi, who swung two away from Roy before zipping one in to remove the bails, and then toys with Ben Duckett: one arrowing into the pads, another screaming past the bat into, and out of, de Kock’s gloves, the last edged nervously over the slips. Fabulous bowling by South Africa this morning.
WICKET! Roy b Ngidi 9 (England 27-1)
Roy done by a beauteous gobstopper from Ngidi, that tempts him into the drive leaving space for the ball to say thanks very much and clop into the off stump.
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5th over: England 27-0 (Roy 9 , Malan 12) Roy is given out lbw to Parnell but begs for mercy from DRS – and he’s reprieved, a big stride forward showing the orange sole of his boot saves the day – the ball is too high. He’s beaten next ball but gets rid of his urggs with a shimmy four through midwicket.
Now if they did this in cheese and onion:
Possibly my favourite South African discovery so far: Salt & Vinegar flavoured salt. Genius. pic.twitter.com/x7HoLLpNFJ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) January 29, 2023
4th over: England 19-0 (Roy 2 , Malan 12) The third umpire has to put down his coffee and deliberate on a caught behind. Not out says umpire Erasmus on the field – and he’s right, no bat on the ball at all. Ngidi was sure it was out and his mood isn’t helped when four leg byes rocket down to the rope. God that sky looks good. I was considering buying a heated blanket but the real thing would be better. Ooof, Malan has had enough faffing about and wellies the ball from outside off over long on.
3rd over: England 9-0 (Roy 2 , Malan 6) Parnell again, still causing Roy a bit of bother. A leading edge falls safe over backward point, and Roy is done by one high on the legs that he almost treads on. No real fluency yet from Roy.
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2nd over: England 6-0 (Roy 0 , Malan 5) Ngidi fizzes one into Malan’s pads first ball, but South Africa wrinkle their noses at a review. Next ball is flayed away off his pads for four. Nigidi has sun creamed his face as if a butterfly has opened its wings across his cheeks. Six from the over but lots of lovely swing.
1st over: England 0-0 (Roy 0 , Malan 0):Wayne Parnell (of Kent, Worcesetershire and Northants) takes the first ball to the strains of the Barmy Army’s trumpeteer. A sticky maiden, with Roy unable to scrounge anything, an acrobatic save at backward point off the last ball denying him a single.
Green, green grass, blue, blue sky. A woman knitting under a sun umbrella, a gang of little boys with bare feet sitting on a rug, the players march out. Let me know about your Sunday mornings.
Fascinating listening to Nasser Hussain in the Sky studio, about whether Jason Roy – who remember scored a century last match – has plateaued. England, he says, will have to decide whether his trajectory is downwards and should be replaced for the World Cup by a young gun on the rise. Harsh game this professional sport.
South Africa XI
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Changes for South Africa as well, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi replace Tabraiz Shamsie and Kagiso Rabada and Friday’s player of the match Sisanda Magala.
England XI
England: Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Olly Stone, Reece Topley.
I’m afraid I missed Jos Buttler’s words of wisdom as there was an urgent issue with some bike lights, but Jofra Archer and David Willey sit on the bench, replaced by Reece Topley and Chris Woakes.
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South Africa win the toss and will bowl
Temba Bavuma wants to put England under early pressure with the ball. It looks hottttt out there.
Hints that Jofra Archer will be rested today… toss and teams coming up shortly.
Preamble
Good morning! The second ODI between South Africa and England rolls onto the conveyor belt at 8am GMT, after England surprised everyone by collapsing into a 27 run defeat at the Mangaung Oval on Friday.
In Bloemfontein came long overdue runs for a clearly angry, and relieved, Jason Roy in an opening stand of 146, a run out at last for Jofra Archer, and ODI duck for Harry Brook, as South Africa’s seamers proved too hot to handle in the last half of the game. England collapsed from 146-0 to impressive player of the match Sisanda Magala and Anrich Nortje .
We’re back in Bloemfontein today, where England would like to put their recent ODI record (played four, lost four) in the dustbin of history. It’ll be a fresh strip today out in the 30 degree heat, with a similarly slow and sticks surface expected. Put the kettle on, by eight the sun will be just peeping over the grey January horizon.
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