South Africa won an important ODI series at Lord’s, beating England by five runs to take a 2–0 lead that could not be broken. This was the Proteas’ first bilateral ODI series win on English soil since Temba Bavuma’s captaincy in 1998. This is the same ground where South Africa won the World Test Championship in June.
South Africa batted first and scored 330 runs for 8 wickets, thanks to Matthew Breetzke’s 85 and Tristan Stubbs’ 58, with a late surge from Dewald Brevis. England answered with 325 runs for 9 wickets, thanks to half-centuries from Joe Root and Jos Buttler and a fast finish from Jofra Archer, but they fell just short. Breetzke was selected the Match’s Player of the Match.
Breetzke also made history by being the first player to score fifty runs in each of his first five ODI innings. This was another highlight in a great year for the 25-year-old.
England’s chase was close to winning until the penultimate over. Archer’s late hitting left six runs needed off the last ball before South Africa won. There were 655 runs in total (330 + 325), which is a new record for an ODI at Lord’s.
Nandre Burger led South Africa’s defense with 3 for 63 with the ball, while Keshav Maharaj helped with 2 for 59 and Lungi Ngidi made a key strike to get rid of Buttler. Archer took 4 for 62 for England, and Adil Rashid kept things under control in the middle.
India’s 326 for 8 in the 2002 NatWest final is still the highest successful chase at Lord’s, therefore England couldn’t beat the ground’s one-day chase record.
South Africa’s series win ends a 27-year wait for them in England. Between 1998 and this tour, the teams split or saw England win multiple series (2008 loss for SA; 2012 drawn; 2017 loss; 2022 drawn). The outcome also shows that England’s white-ball game is getting worse, as they have lost five of their previous six ODI series.
Next up is the third ODI, which will take place on Sunday, September 7, at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. South Africa will want to win all three games, while England will try to get a consolation win.
(With inputs from agencies)
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