Rain may have cut the game to 29 overs a team, but England have scripted a resounding comeback with a huge win in the 2nd ODI.

Despite a fairly disciplined bowling effort from the South Africans, cameos from Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran were able to drive England towards a competitive total of 201.

A career-best 4-wicket haul from Dwaine Pretorius was the star performer among the bowlers, but the Proteas would soon have a tricky chasing task to address.

A probing opening spell from Reece Topley and David Willey saw a dramatic top-order collapse. Janneman Malan was the first to depart, and the rest of the top 4 soon followed suit, as the Proteas were at a dismal 6/4.

Heinrich Klaasen battled hard and made a decent 33, but there was little resistance from the Proteas batters. Whether it was pace or spin, it was an ongoing struggle that was coming to a rapid end.

The spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid wrapped up the tail, as SA finished at 83 all out.

The third ODI at Leeds is for all the marbles on Sunday, and England will surely have a spring in their step after a thumping bounceback. The scoreboard pressure ended up too much, and the Proteas had their backs against the wall after the top 4 were sent back early.

Rain briefly threatened, but England were undoubtedly in the driver’s seat.

This is South Africa’s joint-worst ODI total against England, and there will be plenty to think about heading into the high-stakes decider.

ENG 201 in 28.1 overs (Livingstone 38, Curran 35 – Pretorius 6-0-36-4, Shamsi 6-0-39-2)
SA 83 in 20.4 overs (Klaasen 33 – Rashid 6-1-29-3, Topley 4-0-17-2)