05/02/2016
Arab Times
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South Africa’s batsman Quinton de Kock (right) plays a shot as England’s wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, (middle), with teammate Chris Jordan (left), watches during the 1st One-Day Internationals cricket match between South Africa and England, at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Feb 3. (AP)BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Feb 4, (AP): England beat South Africa by 39 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first one-day international on Wednesday, a result that already appeared likely before the rain when the tourists racked up a ground-record 399-9.
Jos Buttler was mainly responsible for the best ODI total ever at Mangaung Oval after decimating the South African bowling for his 105 off 76 balls.
South Africa threatened to get close to the huge target with opener Quinton de Kock’s 138 not out, but slipped to 250-5 after 33.3 overs when the rain arrived.
Buttler was the best of a bunch of good knocks as England’s batsmen hit the ground running in the first game of the five-match series to record its second-best total in ODIs.
Alex Hales made 57 off 47 balls, fellow opener Jason Roy 48 off 30, Joe Root contributed 52, and Ben Stokes clobbered 57 off 55 at the end.
Allrounder Stokes’ ability to have a big influence on a game extended to the outfield as well when he took a spectacular running one-handed catch near the boundary to dismiss South Africa captain AB de Villiers when he thought he had hit a six, striking a big blow to the Proteas’ chase.
A South African win was always going to be a long-shot after Buttler’s brilliant display.
He hit a second straight ODI century following his 46-ball hundred against Pakistan in Dubai. Buttler unleashed 11 fours and five sixes this time, taking apart South Africa’s patched-up bowling on a batter-friendly strip in Bloemfontein, where the boundary ropes had also been brought in by about 10 meters.
England took full advantage, plundering 15 sixes by eight different batsmen to fly past the previous best score at Mangaung Oval of 351-6 by South Africa against Zimbabwe in 2010.
England passed 351 in the 46th over, when Stokes clubbed two of his three sixes. It could, and should, have been better for England but South Africa took a couple of quick wickets near the end, and then bowled two dot balls to last man Reece Topley to prevent the 18th score of 400 or more in ODI history.
Faf du Plessis made 55 but De Kock’s unbeaten and career-best 138 off 96 balls, his third ton in four ODI innings, was the only batting effort of any real consequence for South Africa.
On just 8, De Villiers was denied the chance to have an effect on the game when he hit a hard lofted drive toward long-on that seemed good enough for six.
Instead, Stokes sprinted to his right and stuck out his right hand to clasp a stunning catch when the ball appeared to have already passed him. De Villiers stopped in his tracks, wide-eyed in apparent disbelief.
It was one of three wickets for spinner Moeen Ali.
De Kock and Farhaan Behardien, South Africa’s last recognized batsmen, were at the crease when lightning finally gave way to a downpour.
It confirmed what would have been a likely England victory, even if De Kock’s assault in the final 17 overs would have been intriguing.
South Africa vs England Scoreboard
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Feb 4, (AFP): Full scoreboard in the first one-day international between South Africa and England at the Mangaung Oval on Wednesday:
