In the first one-day match of the five-match series held in Bloemfontein, Enrique Norkia-Sisanda Magalade’s brilliant bowling hit England by 27 runs as South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the series. Proteas scored 298 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. In response, the English innings stopped at 271 runs.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Proteas opened the team with 61 runs, the two openers Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma. But none could play a big innings. De Kock 37 and Bavuma returned with 36 runs. Aiden Markram stopped for 13 runs at the next wicket.
Dusen made a big score for the team with a 58-ball 55 with Henrik Klaasen for the fourth wicket and a hundred with David Miller for the fifth wicket. He tasted the fourth century of ODI career on the way to add 110 runs from 101 balls with Miller. Dusen departed for 111 runs. And Miller scored 53 runs off 56 balls.
England got off to a great start chasing runs. 146 runs came from the opening pair. Malan got out after scoring 59 off 55 balls. Later England lost 2 wickets for 1 run due to the double hits of Magala and Norte. Magala guided No. 3 Ben Duckett to the pavilion for 3 runs and No. 4 Harry Brooke to the pavilion empty-handed.
Meanwhile, Roy got his 11th career century. He scored a century with 78 balls. Later, he fell victim to pacer Kagiso Rabada for 113 runs. Even after Roy’s departure, England’s path to victory was easy. 103 runs needed in 21 overs with the last 6 wickets in hand.
In the end, when Butler got out for 36 runs, no one could catch the lead of the team. Moeen Ali was out for 11 runs, Sam Curren for 17 runs, David Willey for 8 runs, Jofra Archer for zero runs and Ole Stone for 1 run. And Adil Rashid remains unbeaten on 14 runs.
(28 January/MM)