South Africa grind to competitive 250
Monday, 23 November 2009
Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen lifted their side with a brace of half-centuries but South Africa's anticipated batting onslaught failed to materialise as England's varied seam attack restricted them to a manageable total of 250 for 9 in their 50 overs in the second ODI at Centurion, according to website cricinfo.
Even a hit-and-miss fielding performance with five clear-cut chances - three alone to the captain, Andrew Strauss - could not undermine the determination England showed in the field, with Strauss himself excelling as a strategist, in particular with his canny use of the medium-pacers, Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott.
Seven days ago on this very ground, South Africa managed 241 for 6 in 30 fewer overs, but a week of torrential rain had added a coating of glue to the surface, and made it hard for any player to obtain full value for their aggression. The most fluent batsman on display was the opener, Amla, who would not have even been playing had Jacques Kallis not been ruled out of the series with a fractured rib. As it was, South Africa were very grateful for his calm demeanour and calculated strokeplay, as he picked off six fours, all of them through the off side, in a 72-ball 57.
Strauss won the toss and rightly bowled first, as Graeme Smith, who made 88 from 44 balls in last Sunday's fixture, this time struggled to master the conditions. He picked off two fours from successive deliveries as James Anderson strayed onto his pads, but then, after a consultation between Strauss and England's other new-ball bowler Tim Bresnan, a slip was installed, an off-stump line was settled upon, and a cramped Smith edged a good-length delivery straight to the fielder.
South Africa innings:
HM Amla c Strauss b Collingwood 57
GC Smith c Strauss b Bresnan 12
AB de Villiers c Collingwood b Anderson 2
JP Duminy c Prior b Wright 41
AN Petersen b Bresnan 64
R McLaren c Prior b Anderson 5
JA Morkel c Morgan b Collingwood 6
MV Boucher not out 30
RE van der Merwe c Bresnan b Anderson 5
DW Steyn c Trott b Mahmood 12
CK Langeveldt not out 6
Extras: (lb 3, w 6, nb 1) 10
Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) 250
England Last Score: 207 for 3, 41.3 overs at BST: 10:05 pm
Even a hit-and-miss fielding performance with five clear-cut chances - three alone to the captain, Andrew Strauss - could not undermine the determination England showed in the field, with Strauss himself excelling as a strategist, in particular with his canny use of the medium-pacers, Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott.
Seven days ago on this very ground, South Africa managed 241 for 6 in 30 fewer overs, but a week of torrential rain had added a coating of glue to the surface, and made it hard for any player to obtain full value for their aggression. The most fluent batsman on display was the opener, Amla, who would not have even been playing had Jacques Kallis not been ruled out of the series with a fractured rib. As it was, South Africa were very grateful for his calm demeanour and calculated strokeplay, as he picked off six fours, all of them through the off side, in a 72-ball 57.
Strauss won the toss and rightly bowled first, as Graeme Smith, who made 88 from 44 balls in last Sunday's fixture, this time struggled to master the conditions. He picked off two fours from successive deliveries as James Anderson strayed onto his pads, but then, after a consultation between Strauss and England's other new-ball bowler Tim Bresnan, a slip was installed, an off-stump line was settled upon, and a cramped Smith edged a good-length delivery straight to the fielder.
South Africa innings:
HM Amla c Strauss b Collingwood 57
GC Smith c Strauss b Bresnan 12
AB de Villiers c Collingwood b Anderson 2
JP Duminy c Prior b Wright 41
AN Petersen b Bresnan 64
R McLaren c Prior b Anderson 5
JA Morkel c Morgan b Collingwood 6
MV Boucher not out 30
RE van der Merwe c Bresnan b Anderson 5
DW Steyn c Trott b Mahmood 12
CK Langeveldt not out 6
Extras: (lb 3, w 6, nb 1) 10
Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) 250
England Last Score: 207 for 3, 41.3 overs at BST: 10:05 pm