The Proteas failed to defend 256/7 as England claimed a two-wicket win in the Pink ODI at the Wanderers to level the series, writes Naeemah Benjamin.
Half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and David Miller helped the Proteas reach their first-innings total.
It was a circumspective approach by the destructive Quinton de Kock upfront with disciplined and accurate bowling by the English duo of Curran and Mahmood keeping the Proteas at bay.
Eventually, he got stuck in, looking as glorious as ever. He notched up yet another fifty. De Kock managed to get himself out by swinging hard at an Adil Rashid delivery which saw him clean bowled for 69.
David Miller, despite causing two runouts knew he had a helluva job to do with only the tail left to aid him. He started off in normal Miller fashion of late. Slow but steady and looked more comfortable as he went along.
He brought up his 13th ODI fifty and then let loose with the hopes of the Proteas getting to decent total resting well and truly on his shoulders.
There were some sketchy decisions made by the Proteas’ senior player. He took singles in the middle of overs putting Beuran Hendricks and later Lutho Sipamla on strike, instead of him taking the responsibility to squeeze out some extra runs by farming the strike.
The Proteas set England 257 to win.
England’s chase was built upon a quick start from Jonny Bairstow (43 off 23 balls), Joe Denly’s 66 and 49 from Joe Root.
There were some good performances from the Proteas bowlers, particularly from Beuran Hendricks who finished with 3/59 and Lungi Ngidi who recovered well to finish with 3/63.
England got over the line with a two-wicket win to level the series.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
