Proteas limited overs captain Temba Bavuma’s century and David Miller’s 20th half-century, ensured that South Africa defeated England by five wickets in the second One-Day International match at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
In doing so, the Proteas secured the series with a game to spare.
After winning the toss for the second time in a row, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma chose to bowl, citing that the conditions at the ground suited their bowling attack.
The decision paid off as Wayne Parnell and Lungi Ngidi struck early in the power play to dismiss Jason Roy and Dawid Malan for 9 and 12 runs, respectively.
Limping at 33-2, England only managed a further 49 runs before Keshav Maharaj took the wicket of Ben Duckett for just 20 runs.
That brought Harry Brook to the middle, and the 23-year-old played a superb knock of 80 runs in 75 balls before he was caught by Rassie van der Dussen off the bowling of Aiden Markram.
England’s innings was then rescued by Jos Buttler, as he scored 94 runs at a strike rate of 114.63, assisted by Moeen Ali, who scored a half-century in 45 balls. The visitors reached 342 in their allotted 50 overs.
The Proteas’ chase started in the best way possible as the opening pair of Bavuma and Quinton de Kock reached 64 runs in the first 10 overs. De Kock was then dismissed for 31 runs off the bowling of Olly Stone.
Bavuma quickly reached his half-century and, with the help of van der Dussen, stamped his authority on the match.
The skipper was a man on a mission as he dismantled the England bowling attack smartly to reach his third ODI hundred in the 25th over, silencing the critics that have been calling for his number.
Bavuma was eventually dismissed by Sam Curran for 109 runs, and Van der Dussen was joined by Markram in the middle.
Unfortunately for South Africa, van der Dussen couldn’t replicate his century from the first ODI, dismissed by Adil Rashid.
Alongside Markram, Henrich Klassen scored a 27-run cameo that saw the Proteas reach 233/4 in the 36th over before he was caught by Buttler off the bowling of Olly Stone.
Markram also played a spectacular knock but couldn’t reach his half-century, as Rashid claimed his second wicket of the match.
Needing 70 off the last over, the attention then turned to David Miller and Marco Jansen as the pair looked to finish off the game.
Miller reached his 20th half-century, and needing 12 runs from the last two overs, he and Jansen secured the victory for the home side. Jansen finished on 32 off 29 balls, while Miller scored 58 off 37 runs.
The pick of the bowlers for SA was Anrich Nortje, who took two wickets in his nine overs. Olly Stone and Adil Rashid both claimed two wickets for England and the man of the match award went to Temba Bavuma for his 109 runs in 102 balls.
South Africa and England will play the third and final ODI match on Wednesday at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly.
