3.01pm Well … gosh. It all looked so cushty when Jamie Smith boshed back-to-back boundaries in the first over. Even at 44 for 1 with Joe Root looking creamy, a big total was surely on the cards. But then South Africa got busy… Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi made the early incisions, but it was Wiaan Mulder’s three-for and Keshav Maharaj’s 4 for 22 that wrecked the innings. Three catches for Rickelton behind the stumps, and two very sharp takes at slip from Markram. A careless run-out for Harry Brook and some deeply floppy batting from the lower-middle order. Jamie Smith’s fifty at least gives a nominal target to defend. But honestly… Alan will be here for the restart.
Mustafa Moudi: “England thought this is a 50 overs game, so they played 25 overs and let South Africa play 25 overs :P”
DaWolf: “This would be a bad Hundred score. Last match here saw 139 chased down with ease!”
Brad : “Is it a bad batting surface or have SA just bowled really well ? ” Umm… there is a third option! England batted appallingly…
Maharaj to Baker, OUT, splut go the stumps, meh goes England’s innings! Sonny Baker plays down the Bakerloo as Maharaj takes the Windrush Line to rush England to a miserable total of 131 in less than half their overs! A tentative stride into the full length, round the wicket, no clue about the flight and guile from the No.1 ODI bowler, and back goes his middle stump.