27/01Result
1st ODI (D/N), England tour of South Africa at Bloemfontein, Jan 27 2023
South Africa won by 27 runs
Player of the Match
Sisanda Magala
Sisanda MagalaSouth Africa
27/01Result
1st ODI (D/N), England tour of South Africa at Bloemfontein, Jan 27 2023
South Africa won by 27 runs
Player of the Match
Sisanda Magala
Sisanda MagalaSouth Africa

9.11pm Right. That's a wrap. A thrilling start to the series. Always said 50-over cricket was best...

I'll leave you with another nugget from Sampath: "Roy-Malan's stand of 146 is the second highest opening partnership for England in an unsuccessful ODI chase (7th highest by any pair)" This list is a smorgasbord of world-beating mess-ups. But, and it's a big but from England's perspective, at least Roy is back to form with a mighty innings. From Miller, Alan and Venkat, good night!

J Pearce: "One piece of advice for England. Please, please learn to incorporate 'milking the bowling' for 6-7 RPO risk free runs into tactics!!"

9.03pm Time for some presentations.

Here's Jos Buttler: "Disappointed. We played some excellent cricket for the majority of the game. Pretty happy at halfway, a very good wicket for batting, to restrict them to 298, very happy. To have that conviction and commitment to keep taking it on has served us well for a long time. We didn't commit enough to that, SA came back well and took wickets. The pitch got more difficult, was at its best against the new ball. We are disappointed we didn't go on to win."

The player of the match is Sisanda Magala for his 3 for 46: "Very happy considering the position we were in. To pull off that type of win was very good for us. Temba was trying to suss out the situation. I was first-change, it was what the situation needed. Bowl as straight as possible, hit the length, a few change-ups. Keep it simple. A bit two-paced, used the steepness. Worked out for us. Time for rest now!"

Temba Bavuma: "The man of the match, that's where the game changed for us, got us some momentum, the guys after him rode the momentum. After Quinny got out I thought it was a good wicket, wicket got slower, ball got soft. We felt a little below par but it was enough. Got to keep staying in the game, they played well, did it for longer periods than Quinny and myself. Magala was a threat, they haven't seen much of him. But I was expecting one of our bowlers to do something special. Anrich showed his quality and raw pace. We'll take the win, we need the points. The conversation will be, are we happy with how we went about our business?"

Sampath tells me, this is the first time Jason Roy's ODI hundred ended up on the losing side. All his previous ten tons came in wins.

8.55pm Wow. What a win! South Africa's first against England at Bloemfontein, and one of the most extraordinary they have ever pulled off. England were on cruise control at regular intervals, first in a 146-run opening stand, and then while Jos Buttler was marshalling a requirement of barely four an over. But Temba Bavuma gambled on a wickets hunt, turned to his seamers to bowl out early, and they delivered in style. Magala started things off, Rabada bounced back from some rough early treatment, then Nortje bowled like fire to rip through the tail. Remarkable.

Steyn: "Credit to Bavuma, think he's rotated the bowlers very well in this key ending. Bowled Nortje and Rabada out when we neede to go for the kill and it paid."

Adnan Ansari: "This is why Stokes is so important in this England side!!!"

vishal: "@Adnan Ansari Not stokes Roooooooooooot is important" Tell you what, I reckon there's room for both of them!

JOYDEEP GILL: "England From 146/0 to next 125 runs all out "

44.2
W
Shamsi to Stone, OUT, poked in the air back down the pitch, and Shamsi seals a sensational turnaround! A simple return catch, Stone had no scoobies about the variations there, and South Africa are still in the hunt for automatic World Cup qualification

OP Stone c & b Shamsi 1 (8m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00

44.1
0
Shamsi to Stone, no run, forward watchfully and blocked to the off side

28 from 36... Parnell has two overs, Magala one... here's Shamsi... who's had some tap but now has a No.11 in his sights

END OF OVER:
44 | 4 Runs | ENG: 271/9 (28 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 6.15, RRR: 4.66)

  • Olly Stone1 (3b)
  • Adil Rashid14 (17b)
  • Sisanda Magala9-0-46-3
  • Anrich Nortje10-0-62-4
43.6
1
Magala to Stone, 1 run, on the hips, nurdled to square leg. Stone takes the single and keeps the strike. England can't afford to turn down runs
43.5
0
Magala to Stone, no run, hopeful appeal as Stone wears the full length on the pads, but that's jagged in too much to challenge the stumps
43.4
1
Magala to Rashid, 1 run, rolls the wrists on a controlled pull, doesn't get up quite enough to trouble Rashid as he picks off the single to square leg
43.3
0
Magala to Rashid, no run, thumped off the front foot, but into the cover ring. Can't find a way through there
43.2
0
Magala to Rashid, no run, outside off, and Rashid has another hack. Can't connect on the slower ball
43.1
2
Magala to Rashid, 2 runs, width, and slashed uppishly down to deep third. Rashid rushes back for the second to keep the strike

END OF OVER:
43 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | ENG: 267/9 (32 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 6.20, RRR: 4.57)

  • Olly Stone0 (1b)
  • Adil Rashid11 (13b)
  • Anrich Nortje10-0-62-4
  • Kagiso Rabada10-0-46-2

So, the equation is fairly simple. Bat the overs, and England win. Somewhat complicated by the sudden lack of any wriggle room!

42.6
0
Nortje to Stone, no run, solidly onto the front foot, blocks to the on-side. Anrich Nortje, take a bow!

Olly Stone... he's got a job to do now!

England are blowing this in sensational style. Nortje has one ball for a five-for, and the win!

42.5
W
Nortje to Archer, OUT, turned inside out, and caught at point! That's outstanding bowling from Nortje, thumping the pitch, demanding that England stay in line to him, and a fat leading edge flies straight into the hands of Klaasen

JC Archer c Klaasen b Nortje 0 (5m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

42.4
0
Nortje to Archer, no run, smell the leather! Nortje cranks it up, tight line, back of a length, climbing past the shoulder of the bat as Archer tries to stay in line
42.3
0
Nortje to Archer, no run, fended off the back foot to the on side
42.2
0
Nortje to Archer, no run, hits the pitch hard on a tight off-stump line, Archer is into line on the front foot to defend

Snethemba : "Great... Now we're gonna be told about taking positives from a game we never once looked like winning... "

42.1
1
Nortje to Rashid, 1 run, full length, nurdled off the toes to square leg

Nortje's last. Big six balls coming up

END OF OVER:
42 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 266/8 (33 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 6.33, RRR: 4.12)

  • Adil Rashid10 (12b)
  • Kagiso Rabada10-0-46-2
  • Anrich Nortje9-0-61-3

And is that the game too? England bat deep, but Curran was the class in the tail. 33 still needed from 48 balls. Getting them in singles rather goes against England's psyche, which might mess with their fabled mindset!

41.6
W
Rabada to Curran, OUT, spoke too soon, Curran chases the width! That's a sucker punch from Rabada, he served it up on a good length, shaping away, inviting the drive and a hint of movement takes the edge!

SM Curran c †de Kock b Rabada 17 (44m 21b 0x4 1x6) SR: 80.95

41.5
0
Rabada to Curran, no run, bouncer, and now it looks as though Curran is content to see off the threat as he tucks well beneath the ball
41.4
0
Rabada to Curran, no run, whistles through to the keeper, Curran opts not to play at this one
41.3
1
Rabada to Rashid, 1 run, worked to deep third for another single, opening the face outside off
41.2
1
Rabada to Curran, 1 run, tucked to the leg side
41.1
0
Rabada to Curran, no run, tucked up on the back foot, defends down into the crease. Nearly plays on, but not nearly enough for Rabada's sake

Rabada to complete his spell

END OF OVER:
41 | 8 Runs | ENG: 264/7 (35 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 6.43, RRR: 3.88)

  • Adil Rashid9 (11b)
  • Sam Curran16 (16b)
  • Anrich Nortje9-0-61-3
  • Kagiso Rabada9-0-44-1
40.6
0
Nortje to Rashid, no run, sways inside the line, good heat to finish the over. Nortje has six more balls to make a impact on this chase
40.5
4
Nortje to Rashid, FOUR, free hit, and flogged through the line! Stands and delivers, seizing on the attempted yorker, Nortje missed by a few inches, and got slotted through wide long-on

South Africa, remember, really need this win for World Cup qualification

40.5
1nb
Nortje to Rashid, 1 no ball, bouncer, and Nortje strikes! Nortje doesn't strike because he's overstepped! Huge moment, Rashid was completely tucked up by a heat-seeking bouncer, flapped to short fine leg... oh dear

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st146DJ MalanJJ Roy
2nd5JJ RoyBM Duckett
3rd1JJ RoyHC Brook
4th44JJ RoyJC Buttler
5th26MM AliJC Buttler
6th12JC ButtlerSM Curran
7th16DJ WilleySM Curran
8th16AU RashidSM Curran
9th1AU RashidJC Archer
10th4AU RashidOP Stone