ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: England make a statement of intent

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: England make a statement of intent

London: England underlined their credentials as tournament favourites with a clinical performance, swatting aside a disjointed South African side by 104 runs at the Oval here on Thursday.

Ben Stokes was the catalyst with bat, ball and in the field as his all-round display was too much for the Proteas to contain.

Chasing a daunting 312 to win, South Africa could muster only 207 as Jofra Archer (3 wickets), Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes (2 wickets each) made life difficult for the South African batsmen with accurate bowling.

Earlier, Stokes led the way with 89 as England posted 311 for 8 against South Africa in the opening game of the World Cup.

On the Oval pitch that did not lend itself to the domineering style favoured by the hosts, Stokes anchored the innings with his best score in almost two years.

His was the highest of four half-centuries Jason Roy (54), Joe Root (51) and Eoin Morgan (57)—all falling in the fifties, but regular wickets hurt the momentum and a return of 76 for four from the last 10 overs was a modest one.

Imran Tahir, who opened the bowling and became the first spinner to open the bowling in the World Cup opener, set the ball rolling on the second delivery of the match as he sent Jonny Bairstow packing for a duck. 

However, Joe Root and Jason Roy did not allow South Africa any immediate success as England moved past fifty-run mark in the ninth over, a little slow by their recent brisk standards but a much needed one following the early fall of Bairstow. 

Equal contributions
The hosts brought up their hundred in the 17th over before Roy, who became the first batsman to score a fifty in this World Cup, and Root notched up their respective fifties and completed the 100-run partnership in the 18th over.
 
However, South Africa struck back as Roy and Root perished in quick succession. First, Andile Phehlukwayo dismissed Roy for 54 after the Englishman mistimed a pull shot and skipper Faf du Plessis took an easy catch at mid-off.

Then, Kagiso Rabada scalped his first wicket of the World Cup as he ended Root’s stay in the middle after JP Duminy held on to a sharp catch at the backward point as South Africa struck twice in space of four balls to stall England’s recovery.

Stokes and skipper Morgan, who was playing his 200th ODI for England, though did not allow South Africa to cash in on two quick wickets. While Morgan was the aggressor, Stokes took his time before opening his shoulder as the two added 106 runs together. 

Timely breaks
However, South Africa managed to break the partnership as Tahir scalped his second wicket of the match after Aiden Markram took an excellent diving catch to end Morgan’s innings.

Stokes, meanwhile, stayed put even as South Africa continued to strike at regular intervals. While a lot was expected of Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, the two could score only 18 and 3 respectively as Lungi Ngidi helped Proteas to contain the hosts. 

Scoreboard: 
England Innings: Jason Roy c du Plessis b Phehlukwayo 54 (53b, 8x4), Jonny Bairstow c de Kock b Imran Tahir 0 (1b) , Joe Root c Duminy b Rabada 51 (59b, 5x4), Eoin Morgan c Markram b Imran Tahir 57 (60b, 4x4, 3x6), Ben Stokes c Amla b Ngidi 89 (79b, 9x4), Jos Buttler b Ngidi 18 (16b), Moeen Ali c du Plessis b Ngidi 3 (9b), Chris Woakes c du Plessis b Rabada 13 (14b, 1x4), Liam Plunkett not out 9 (6b, 1x4), Jofra Archer not out 7 (3b, 1x4).
Extras: 10 (lb 2, w 8).
Total: 311/8.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-107, 3-111, 4-217, 5-247, 6-260, 7-285, 8-300
Bowling: Imran Tahir 10-0-61-2, Lunghi Ngidi 10-0-66-3, Kagiso Rabada 10-0-66-2, Dwaine Pretorius 7-0-42-0, Andile Phehlukwayo 8-0-44-1, JP Duminy 2-0-14-0, Aiden Markram 3-0-16-0.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock c Root b Plunkett 68 (74b, 6x4, 2x6), Hashim Amla c Buttler b Plunkett 13 (23b, 1x4), Aiden Markram c Root b Archer 11 (12b, 2x4), Faf du Plessis c Ali b Archer 5 (7b, 1x4), Rassie van der Dussen c Ali b Archer 50 (61b, 4x4, 1x6), JP Duminy c Stokes b Ali 8 (11b, 1x4), Dwaine Pretorius run out (Stokes/Morgan) 1 (1b), Andile Phehlukwayo c Stokes b Rashid 24 (25b, 4x4), Kagiso Rabada c Plunkett b Stokes 11 (19b, 2x4), Lunghi Ngidi not out 6 (5b), Imran Tahir c Root b Stokes 0 (1b).
Extras: 10 (b 4, lb 5, w 1).
Total: 207.
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-44, 3-129, 4-142, 5-144, 6-167, 7-180, 8-193, 9-207.
Bowling: Chris Woakes 5-0-24-0, Jofra Archer 7-1-27-3, Adil Rashid 8-0-35-1, Moeen Ali 10-0-63-1, Liam Plunkett 7-0-37-2, Ben Stokes 2.5-0-12-2.

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