Aug 28 (Reuters) – South Africa made light work of England
in the second one-day international in Southampton on Tuesday,
defeating the hosts by 80 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the
five-match series after being set up by Hashim Amla’s 150.
England were set a target of 288 to win following Amla’s
stellar innings after the Proteas, who now top the world
rankings in all three forms of the game, won the toss and
elected to bat.
The hosts would have loved to have mirrored outcast Kevin
Pietersen’s innings on the same day, after he thrashed a
quick-fire 163 for Surrey in the County Championship match
against Somerset, but it was not to be as England’s run chase
got off to a horrible start before they were bowled out for 207.
In just the second ball of the innings captain Alastair Cook
was clean bowled for a duck by left arm opener Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell put on 64 runs to steady the
hosts, but the promising partnership came to an end after Trott
departed for 23 courtesy of Dean Elgar’s delightful catch in the
deep off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
As he approached his half-century, Bell was next to fall for
45, bowled by deceptive spinner Robin Peterson to leave England
in the awkward position of 77 for three.
South Africa began to take control of the match when
Peterson struck for a second time in his next over, Ravi Bopara
was claimed for 16 as he struck a back-foot drive direct to Faf
du Plessis at extra cover. England lasted 40.4 overs.
Earlier Amla scored a magnificent 150 to lead South Africa
to an imposing total of 287 for five.
Graeme Smith and Amla shared a fluent opening partnership of
89, seeing off the early threat of James Anderson and Steven
Finn with ease.
Continued…
