Read the full match report here:
Well there you go. England were always a good few runs short, but the way AB de Villiers and, to a slightly lesser extent earlier Hashim Amla played, they might not have won if they’d posted 280-odd. Brilliant batting from AB, with support from David Wiese in the end. England didn’t bowl amazingly, Ben Stokes in particular looking rather tired, but they were outplayed quite comfortably in the end.
After going 2-0 down, South Africa have come back superbly to win the series 3-2. That’s all from this one - we’ll see you for the first of the Twenty20s on Friday.
South Africa win by five wickets!
44th over: South Africa 237-5 (De Villiers 101, Wiese 41)
Here’s Woakes for the denouement, and he sends down a bouncer that’s called a wide down leg. Wiese whips a hip-high long-hop behind square leg for four, then drives wide of mid-off for another boundary to win it!
Updated
43rd over: South Africa 227-5 (De Villiers 100, Wiese 33) - require another 10 runs to win
De Villiers wants to get this over with as soon as. He throws everything at a hook from Topley but gets a top edge that goes over the keeper and to the ropes. Next up is a much more controlled shot that scoots past mid-on four another four. And then a huge inside-out shot goes high, high in the air but drops safely, and they take two. And then a hundred for De Villiers, getting the one more required from a late dab to third man. Terrific innings, but then again it’s AB de Villiers: of course it’s a terrific innings.
Updated
42nd over: South Africa 213-5 (De Villiers 89, Wiese 31) - require another 24 runs to win
Stokes bends his back a little, but without much result. A bouncer down the leg side is a wide, two singles from the over, De Villiers sending Wiese back with an urgent NO! from the last ball.
41st over: South Africa 210-5 (De Villiers 88, Wiese 30) - require another 27 runs to win
Beyond that trip upstairs, three singles from the over, the final one gathered after a big heave takes a thick outside edge and flies over point and lands safely.
Not out!
It actually was pitching in line, but despite HawkEye or whatever it is showing the ball smashing into the bails, it was umpire’s call, so De Villiers remains not out.
Review!
England go up for lbw, it looked like it pitched just outside leg but they go upstairs anyway...
40th over: South Africa 207-5 (De Villiers 87, Wiese 28) - require another 30 runs to win
Stokes is back on, because you might as well try something. Doesn’t quite work yet though, four singles from the over as South Africa amble towards this series victory.
39th over: South Africa 203-5 (De Villiers 85, Wiese 26) - require another 34 runs to win
Well, you can see what England are probably trying to do, but Rashid floats up a couple to tempt Wiese into doing something stupid, but he instead lofts a couple of fairly safe sixes over long-on. A back-cut for two, 15 from the over and that’s probably that.
Updated
38th over: South Africa 188-5 (De Villiers 84, Wiese 12) - require another 49 runs to win
Again, a fairly tight over, this time from Ali, until the bad ball comes - a short wide one is cut backward of point and to the fence.
37th over: South Africa 183-5 (De Villiers 83, Wiese 8) - require another 54 runs to win
Rashid bowls a few nice, tight deliveries, before floating up a buffet ball of a half-volley, from which De Villiers helps himself to four.
36th over: South Africa 177-5 (De Villiers 78, Wiese 8) - require another 60 runs to win
De Villiers pushes a brisk single but then a brainless, wild throw from Stokes gives away a free run. Ali drops short, so Wiese gives that the treatment, cutting with little risk behind point and to the boundary.
35th over: South Africa 170-5 (De Villiers 75, Wiese 4) - require another 67 runs to win
New man David Wiese hits from the off, getting four from the third ball but it went straight between two men at short cover, which looks like a pointless risk. Perhaps South Africa are just trying to make this one exciting.
Updated
WICKET! c Stokes b Rashid 13 - South Africa 166-5
Well, I say blip. Behardien falls for the most brightly sign-posted trap you can imagine, going for the big shot over mid-on but getting about half of it, looping the ball to Stokes for an easy catch. All anyone else needs to do is play sensibly and give De Villiers the strike - if they mess this up from here it will be a choke for the ages.
34th over: South Africa 165-4 (De Villiers 74, Behardien 13) - require another 72 runs to win
Thoroughly hydrated, Behardien welts the first ball after drinks back over Ali’s head and indeed over the boundary. Couple more singles from the over, and that Amla dismissal seems to be merely a blip in this run chase.
33rd over: South Africa 157-4 (De Villiers 73, Behardien 6) - require another 80 runs to win
Bit of miscommunication leads to De Villiers turning sharply and only just getting back in time as a throw from Topley isn’t quite what it could be - a direct hit there would’ve been close. Tight over, mind, just two from it, and everyone’s having a drink.
32nd over: South Africa 155-4 (De Villiers 72, Behardien 5) - require another 82 runs to win
Splendid bit of backing up from Jason Roy as a Joe Root throw goes askew, and Roy stops it from going out to the boundary for buzzers. Then Roy misfields slightly which turns one into two for Behardien. So we’ll call him three runs in credit from that over.
31st over: South Africa 151-4 (De Villiers 71, Behardien 2) - require another 86 runs to win
Spin from both ends as Rashid comes back. Still no need to panic here for South Africa, and these two show little sign of doing that as De Villiers and Behardien share four singles from the over.
Updated
30th over: South Africa 147-4 (De Villiers 69, Behardien 0) - require another 90 runs to win
Farhaan Behardien is the new man. Can he continue AB and Amla’s hitherto serene progress?
WICKET! Amla st Buttler b Ali 59 - South Africa 147-4
From absolutely nowhere, England have a sniff. South Africa looked like they were ambling to another risk-free over for five singles, but Amla dances down the pitch, misses a wide ball from Moeen and can’t get back before Buttler gets rid of the bails.
Updated
29th over: South Africa 143-3 (Amla 57, De Villiers 67) - require another 94 runs to win
Topley has the ball now, and interestingly he’s around the wicket to De Villiers, having been over it earlier. Amla steps right across so all three stumps are visible as Topley tries the wide option, flicking the thing for two. He then tries over the wicket, still bowling wide, but this time Amla drives out to deep point for another couple.
28th over: South Africa 137-3 (Amla 52, De Villiers 66) - require another 100 runs to win
Moeen gets one to rip a little, but Amla still gets enough on it to turn around the corner and bring up his 50. A selection of singles and South Africa are cruising to this.
Updated
27th over: South Africa 131-3 (Amla 48, De Villiers 64) - require another 106 runs to win
Broad remains in the attack as England desperately try to get rid of these two, but doesn’t have much luck there as De Villiers turns an attempted yorker into a low full-toss and punches it wide of mid-on and to the boundary ropes.
26th over: South Africa 123-3 (Amla 46, De Villiers 58) - require another 114 runs to win
Hey! Look at that! A maiden! Ali sends down one that Amla regards with faint interest, but doesn’t bother scoring a run from it.
25th over: South Africa 123-3 (Amla 46, De Villiers 58) - require another 114 runs to win
Broad is going for a ‘bowl it wide and see what they fancy doing about it’ approach, which goes OK until the third ball that is called - perhaps a little harshly - a wide. Then he gets Amla to jab at one outside off, but some away movement beats the bat. A single, then De Villiers ends the over by playing the most careful, controlled pull you’re likely to see out to the fine leg fence for four.
24th over: South Africa 116-3 (Amla 45, De Villiers 53) - require another 121 runs to win
Another type of spin for England, as Ali takes the ball from Rashid. Amla scoop/lap/sweep-thingys a couple around the corner, but other than that the over is pretty tight.
23rd over: South Africa 113-3 (Amla 43, De Villiers 52) - require another 124 runs to win
It’s taken a couple of superb catches and a brilliant run-out to get AB in this series so far, and it looks like it’ll take something special to dislodge him this time too. He goes to 50 with a dab down to third man, and four more singles are taken from the over.
Updated
22nd over: South Africa 108-3 (Amla 41, De Villiers 49) - require another 129 runs to win
Rashid drifts down leg and Buttler misses it, so a whole mess of extras are conceded - five of them, specifically, as the ball scoots down to the boundary. Amla then makes a mess of a pull that he top-edges, but it falls safely.
21st over: South Africa 98-3 (Amla 38, De Villiers 47) - require another 139 runs to win
Stokes only lasted one over, and Morgan now turns to Broad to get one of these two out. Or perhaps both. Dare to dream and all that. De Villiers shows how absolutely astonishing his hand-eye coordination/reactions are by coming down the pitch, then adjusting in the fraction of a second that it took to realise Broad had dropped the ball short, executing a textbook pull out to the fence fielder for a single. He tries that again a few balls later but that one bounces a little more than he thought it would, and it loops up off his forearm.
20th over: South Africa 95-3 (Amla 37, De Villiers 45) - require another 142 runs to win
Rashid gets involved in the ‘low full-toss club’, which isn’t necessarily a society a bowler might want to be a part of. Amla stamps his membership card by driving inside-out to the cover boundary.
19th over: South Africa 89-3 (Amla 32, De Villiers 44) - require another 148 runs to win
Ben Stokes is having a bowl, and he doesn’t exactly cover himself in glory by sending down a wide, low full-toss, then a wide half-volley, both of which De Villiers nails to the cover fence.
18th over: South Africa 80-3 (Amla 31, De Villiers 36) - require another 157 runs to win
Amla and De Villiers know exactly where the gaps are in the field, and know exactly where to collect all the singles they want. Seven from that over - five ones, then a two with a drive out to deep cover.
17th over: South Africa 73-3 (Amla 28, De Villiers 32) - require another 164 runs to win
Brilliant piece of fielding from Mo-Mo-Mo Ali on the fence, saving both two runs and Woakes’s bacon after De Villiers slaps a long-hop out towards the cover ropes. He can’t do much about the next ball though, in a similar place but this time a half-volley that AB gets in the middle of the middle and sends it for four. De Villiers then keeps Ali running by cutting to the other side, taking another couple of runs for their total.
Updated
16th over: South Africa 64-3 (Amla 27, De Villiers 24) - require another 173 runs to win
Spin now for England, and Adil Rashid is into the attack. And he sends down a watertight over. Well, nearly watertight. A bit of water got through. Or one run. A run of water. Running water! We got there in the end.
15th over: South Africa 63-3 (Amla 26, De Villiers 24) - require another 174 runs to win
A quiet over for South Africa, with three singles coming from it, but that’s absolutely dandy for them while these two are at the crease.
“Great name Napolean Einstein,” writes Parvez Thekkumpurath, owner of a fine moniker himself. “How about this though.”
Who fancies trying to beat those two in this game of cricketing name top trumps?
14th over: South Africa 60-3 (Amla 24, De Villiers 23) - require another 177 runs to win
Amla punches a low full-toss back to Stokes, but it bounces just in front of the bowler. Amla nicks a quick single, then De Villiers plays a slightly curious cover drive, almost clearing his front leg away but driving it along the ground, flat-batted, to the boundary. Great shot, just slightly curious. A wide and a couple more easy singles from the over, and Stokes has gone for 18 from his two.
13th over: South Africa 52-3 (Amla 22, De Villiers 18) - require another 185 runs to win
You’d imagine that South Africa will feel fairly happy with life while the run chase is in the hands of these two. Seven runs from that over, with barely a risk take, three singles and a wonderful pull from Amla that went directly betwixt fine leg and deep backward square.
12th over: South Africa 45-3 (Amla 16, De Villiers 17) - require another 192 runs to win
Ben Stokes...who probably doesn’t quite look like that son-in-law, comes on at the other end, and he starts...badly. Amla takes a single from a no-ball, which of course brings De Villiers on striker for a free hit. He sets back in his crease and destroys a lengthish ball over cow corner for six. Woof. Couple more singles from the over, which Stokes eventually manages to get under control, beating De Villiers with a lovely away-shaper from the final ball.
Updated
11th over: South Africa 35-3 (Amla 14, De Villiers 10) - require another 202 runs to win
Chris Woakes, with his pleasant face like a son-in-law who always helps with the washing up, replaces Broad. Like the polite, tidy young man he clearly is, he sends down a polite, tidy over from which three singles are scored.
10th over: South Africa 32-3 (Amla 12, De Villiers 9) - require another 205 runs to win
The thing you don’t do to De Villiers is bowl a leg stump half-volley, but Topley does and AB flicks it for four with such ease that it looked like he was contemplating his dinner plans while playing the shot. And then another four, another leg stump ball, this time not quite as full but clipped to fine leg.
9th over: South Africa 24-3 (Amla 12, De Villiers 1) - require another 213 runs to win
Quiet over. Just two singles, via a ricochet off a diving mid-off, for Amla, then a dab to third man from De Villiers.
“Einstein is alive and well and playing cricket!” points out Andrew Benton, providing this evidence. “And so is Napoleon. Now there’s a winning combination.”
8th over: South Africa 22-3 (Amla 11, De Villiers 0) - require another 215 runs to win
AB’s in, and other than a shout for lbw that only occurred due to English giddyness, he’s fine for the rest of the over.
WICKET! Rossouw c Hales b Topley 4 - South Africa 22-3
Ooooh, delightful stuff from Rossouw, playing a straight drive back just past the stumps off Topley...but then argggh, heinous stuff from Rossouw as he drives carelessly straight to the shortish extra-cover, where Hales snaffles.
Updated
7th over: South Africa 18-2 (Amla 11, Rossouw 0) - require another 219 runs to win
Amla raises that knee again, hopping in the air to almost daintily flick a ball from around off stump through square-leg for four. He really is the most marvellous batsman to watch, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know there. Water is wet, sun rises and so forth.
Updated
6th over: South Africa 14-2 (Amla 7, Rossouw 0) - require another 223 runs to win
Roussow, moved up the order to No.4, keeps out the hat-trick ball quite carefully, and does similar to the remainder of the over. Double wicket-maiden for Topley.
Updated
Rilee Rossouw to face the hat-trick ball...
WICKET! Du Plessis b Topley 0 - South Africa 14-2
Got ‘im! Topley pitches one up, gets a bit of in-dip, new man Faf Du Plessis drives at his first ball without caring to move his feet, gets a bit of an inside-edge and it takes out leg stump. Topley on a hat-trick!
Updated
WICKET! De Kock c Buttler b Topley 4 - South Africa 14-1
And the replays show it was inside edge then a flick off De Kock’s strides. So you can see why the ump got it wrong, but the man upstairs (the third umpire, not god) corrects the error.
Updated
Review!
Topley cuts De Kock in two, there’s a noise but the umpire says no when the catch, by Buttler, is claimed. England send it upstairs...
5th over: South Africa 14-0 (De Kock 4, Amla 7) - require another 223 runs to win
Hoo-boy - I’m not a man who believes too much in heaven, but if it exists somewhere in it will be Hashim Amla playing one of his implausibly easy-looking back-foot drives through the covers, which he does just there off Broad and collects four of the most aesthetically pleasing but casual runs you’re ever likely to see. That’s all from the over, aside from a brief but pretty impressive bit of keepy-uppy from Broad.
4th over: South Africa 10-0 (De Kock 4, Amla 3) - require another 227 runs to win
Bit of shape from Topley, getting a couple to duck back in from over the wicket at Amla, both of which would’ve had him absolutely stone dead ell-bee had he not jammed his bat down in time. Three leg-side wides from the over though, which isn’t ideal by any means.
“As I understand it, even the crowd doing a Mexican wave would affect the instruments detecting gravitational waves,” chin-strokes John Starbuck, “but the way England have batted you’d think all those ducks would be enough to create a few black holes by themselves.”
3rd over: South Africa 6-0 (De Kock 4, Amla 2) - require another 231 runs to win
Just the one run from the over, as Amla hikes his knee up high and flaps a single round the corner.
“Now we know that Gravitational waves exist, do England have a strategy for using them to their advantage?” writes Andrew Benton. “Did Einstein ever play cricket? And in the hope of inspiring a “curse of the commentator” result for SA, I predict that England will lose by 4 wickets in the 43rd over.”
I don’t know if Einstein ever donned the whites, but I can tell you - proto deck shoe-wearing lad that he was - he didn’t wear socks. I won a book voucher at primary school by finding out the answers to three questions about Einstein, of which the sock thing wasn’t one but was just a little extra nugget I threw in. It should be noted that I was the only person to enter, but that’s hardly the point. From an early age, I was a winner. not like these losers and haters that Donald Trump keeps telling us about.
2nd over: South Africa 5-0 (De Kock 4, Amla 1) - require another 232 runs to win
Amla tries to flick one at his knees away through mid-wicket, but can only get a single from a squirted thick edge through point - so, not what he intended, in short. De Kock meant that though - he drives a half-volley deliciously through the covers from Topley (sorry, Topley’s the bowler - probably should’ve mentioned that) and to the boundary. There’s plenty of whooping from the England fielders as Topley completes the over - they’re over-excited, bless ‘em.
1st over: South Africa 0-0 (De Kock 0, Amla 0) - require another 237 runs to win
Broad is round the wicket to De Kock, who offers what looked for a moment might be half a chance with a checked drive, but it dropped fairly comfortably short of cover. De Kock makes de contact with the remainder of the over, but can’t get it through the inner ring and that’s a maiden to start things off.
The players are out on the field. Stuey Broad has the ball for England, Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla are the opening bats for South Africa.
“Is it possible that after winning the first two, England thought the series won?” emails Andy Petchy, not unreasonably. “We know they’re crap in dead rubbers, so did they forget to see out this series before abandoning it?”
There’s probably no such thing as too much writing about Sachin - here’s an edited selection of such that you might want to take a look at...
On today of all days, why not treat the one you really love - yourself - to a new anthology, @sachin_rt in Wisden? https://t.co/LoqcIvesaf
— Rob Smyth (@robsmyth0) February 14, 2016
Cheers Vishypops. Morning everyone. Hope all is well. That...well that wasn’t especially good from England. Wickets falling to balls that barely hit the cut strip, more dollies than this fellow’s bedroom, and a whopping five overs lost to the gods of profligacy. Still, South Africa’s batting isn’t exactly bullet-proof, so we could still have a game on.
Fling your emails to Nick.Miller@guardian.co.uk or tweet @NickMiller79.
That’s it from me. Thanks for your eyes, emails and tweets. Nick Miller will be taking over for the final leg of this ODI series.
Most talented group of One day Cricketers England have ever had ... #Fact .. They will be very very dangerous when they develop some brains
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2016
ENGLAND 236 ALL OUT
45th over: England 236 (Topley 1)
HUGE SIX! Broad slogs sweep Tahir over midwicket for a six that even that camera man can’t keep up with. If it was a pretty girl then there’d be no such error. Topley then plays straight and is beaten by a ball that goes through bat and pad and somehow misses everything and runs for four byes. A rushed single, a wide and then Broad chips Tahir to de Villiers.
South Africa require 237 to win the match and the series...
44th over: England 223-9 (Broad 6, Topley 0)
Wicket maiden for Rabada as Hales goes first ball and Topley can’t get the ball off the square.
WICKET! Hales c Rossouw b Rabada 112 (England 223-9)
Well batted, Alex. Every right to take on this shot – short ball, in his arc. The connection is good, but not good enough, as Rossouw takes a good catch on the square leg fence.
43rd over: England 223-8 (Hales 112, Broad 6)
Tahir for his final two and he starts with four... Hales getting down and sweeping hard to beat the fielders on the leg side fence. The over ends with a squeal from Tahir, as Broad pulls him aerially in front of square but the ball falls just short of AB de Villiers scuttling in from midwicket.
42nd over: England 218-8 (Hales 107, Broad 6)
Rabada back into the attack for the first of his final three overs. Again just three from the over.
41st over: England 215-8 (Hales 105, Broad 5)
Abbott deciding to go with some well-directed short bowling. Broad averts his head before playing into the leg side. Hales stands taller, rolling his wrists to keep the ball down. Three from the over.
HUNDRED FOR ALEX HALES!
40th over: England 212-8 (Hales 103, Broad 4)
And what a shot to get there... the field is up and Hales plays a perfect on drive for four! It’s his second ODI hundred – this one coming off 116 balls and has featured 12 fours.
After the Test series he had, would've been easy for Hales to wilt in the ODIs. Brilliant performance
— Daniel Brigham (@dan_brigham) February 14, 2016
Updated
39th over: England 204-8 (Hales 99, Broad 3)
Hales tips down the ground for a sharp one and, after Broad gets two to midwicket, takes a single to give Hales the chance to get that hundred... a punch to de Villiers at mid on... No. A dab to cover point... No.
38th over: England 199-8 (Hales 98, Broad 0)
Hales gets a single to give Morris a go at Broad. A leg bye allows Hales to get back on strike and he responds with a nice drive down the ground. It should be reeled in for two, but de Villiers gets his dive wrong and ends up pushing it beyond the sponge.
@Vitu_E Rubbish from England.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) February 14, 2016
Nail on head from GN...
37th over: England 192-8 (Hales 93, Broad 0)
Good wrists from Rashid allow him to neatly deflect a ball fine for four, as Wiese strays leg side. A well judged leave, on length, and another outside off stump makes Wiese target the stumps again. Again, Rashid gets a four inside fine leg. All good work from the over is ruined by a silly shot to mid on. Silly Rashid...
WICKET! Rashid c Rabada b Wiese 9 (England 192-8)
Brainless from Rashid. After collecting two fours from the over, he mistimes an aerial drive to Rabada at mid on.
36th over: England 184-7 (Hales 93, Rashid 1)
Adil Rashid’s 39 in the previous ODI made a game of it at Johannesburg. Hales, approaching his hundred after getting out for 99 this series, will want Rashid to pick up where he left off so that he doesn’t have to worry about both ends. Just one from the over.
35th over: England 183-7 (Hales 93, Rashid 0)
Hales or bust now. Woakes is unable to recreate his support role of the last ODI. After a handful of plays and misses outside off stump, he gets a leg stump half volley and flicks it beautifully to Abbott at fine leg. Seriously, it was a gorgeous shot. Just a shame about the outcome.
Since moving down from opener to No 7, Moeen Ali has made 124 runs at 13, with a best of 21*
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) February 14, 2016
WICKET! Woakes c Abbott b Wiese 0 (England 183-7)
He’s burgled one there, has Wiese. A leg stump half volley is timed exquisitely to fine leg, where it ends up in the hands of Kyle Abbott.
34th over: England 181-6 (Hales 92, Woakes 0)
Ali’s timing is sound, as he picks two to midwicket when Abbott fires one full and at his pads from around the wicket. But, two balls later, he’s gone. Again, nothing wrong with the timing, but just too close to Behardien, who takes an excellent catch.
WICKET! Ali 12 c Behardien b Abbott 12 (England 181-6)
Ali tries to go over the top of cover but Behardien, in the ring, reacts brilliant to take a sharp one-handed catch over his head.
33rd over: England 178-5 (Hales 91, Ali 10)
Ali threatening to take Wiese to the cleaners. But as nice as the drives are – and seriously, you could eat off them – they’re straight to fielders. A flirtatious three from the over.
32nd over: England 175-5 (Hales 89, Ali 9)
Rabada has a full set at Ali and decides to test him with the short ball. One is too short and given as a wide and, with a hint of width, Moeen carves the other over point where it is fielded by the boundary rider. Single.
31st over: England 172-5 (Hales 88, Ali 8)
Tahir’s final two overs to be saved for final ten, you’d think, as he makes way for Abbott. A good over from the seamer, who varies his pace and length but, crucially, doesn’t offer Hales or Ali some width. Three from the over.
30th over: England 169-5 (Hales 87, Ali 6)
Glorious timing from Hales to beat Imran Tahir at third man, who’s unable to claw back a ball from the rope as Hales gets Rabada through backward point for four.
Most runs for England in ODI series of up to 5 matches: top two from this series, now Hales above Root https://t.co/lq0ludXCeo #SAvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 14, 2016
29th over: England 163-5 (Hales 82, Ali 5)
Moeen Ali gets on strike to Tahir and, first ball, glides onto the back foot and carves through point for four.
28th over: England 156-5 (Hales 80)
Rabada is brought into the attack and makes the breakthrough. Stokes shuffles across to work into the legside but the delivery is just away from him enough to avoid his bat and clip the top of middle and leg. After a wide to Buttler first up, he sends him back for zilch with a fine ball that takes leg for a walk. England on the cusp of another middle order collapse...
WICKET! Buttler b Rabada 0 (England 156-5)
Another duck for Rabada as a sharp delivery nips through his slack defence and up roots his leg stump. RABADABADOO!
WICKET! Stokes b Rabada 29 (England 155-4)
You don’t really see that in ODI cricket, but Ben Stokes has been bowled around his legs: Rabada, over the wicket to the right hander, trims the top off the middle-leg bail.
27th over: England 153-3 (Hales 79, Stokes 29)
Imran Tahir back and Hales gives him Stokes after one delivery. But Stokes copes well and watches the ball off the pitch to hit down the ground for one. When he gets back on strike, he decides to get down on one knee and club Tahir high to midwicket.... for six! It wasn’t the best hit – far from the cleanest strike he’s registered at this ground – but it lobs Rossouw who is right on the boundary.
26th over: England 144-3 (Hales 77, Stokes 22)
Better start from Morris, too, but Stokes spies the slower ball from a mile off and clubs it down the ground for four. A full toss is then whipped around the corner for a single as Morris gets his yorker wrong.
25th over: England 136-3 (Hales 75, Stokes 16)
Tidier from Wiese, as he concedes just three from the over, opting for a wicket to wicket approach. Nicholas Butler emails in from Stockholm with an “I told you so” to Reverend Smyth: “Easy to be wise in hindsight but as I mailed to Rob at the start of the first game in the series, Taylor would have been such a better choice than Morgan, as Taylor is so much better at judging what is required in the situation. Much like Root, he can biff if needed but also be careful while keeping the scoreboard ticking. But I guess England would never be bold enough to drop the captain (took long enough to ditch Cook from the ODI team).”
Updated
24th over: England 132-3 (Hales 74, Stokes 13)
Hales looking very good as Morris isn’t allowed to get away a smidge of width and driven through the covers accordingly. Even the young legs of Rabada can’t prevent that ball from making it for four.
Theresa Mallinson emails in, and starts with some very nice things about the OBO that we won’t divulge (but thank you, Theresa): “Just heard the commentators talking about Stokes’s batting last time he played at Newlands and reminded me there’s a stat I’ve been pondering ever since the Centurion one-day. Realised Amla & de Kock both scored centuries at the Test match and the one-day there. Has any other team had two players both score centuries in consecutive games in a different format at the same ground, in the same season, vs the same opposition? Quite a complex stat, so not really sure how to go about chasing it down...”
I’m useless with stats but someone in OBO country will have the answer on the tip of their fingers in a matter of seconds...
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23rd over: England 127-3 (Hales 69, Stokes 13)
After five off the first two deliveries, Hales thumps Wiese square on the off side for four.
22nd over: England 117-3 (Hales 64, Stokes 8)
Wayward from Morris, as he goes for eight without really asking the batsmen to do anything. The worst is the four leg byes that ends the over, as he strays onto the pads of Hales.
21st over: England 109-3 (Hales 62, Stokes 6)
Wiese keeps Hales in check, but the Notts opener showing good form out there. Even the defensive bunts are coming out of the middle. Four from the over.
20th over: England 105-3 (Hales 59, Stokes 5)
Slack from Tahir and Hales is able to finesse a rank long hop through backward point for four. A couple more are short but quick enough to prevent Hales or Stokes from really going at them. Stokes is a bit more watchful. Robert’s teetering...
@Vitu_E Can I start losing faith yet?
— Robert Wolf Petersen (@robwolfpetersen) February 14, 2016
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19th over: England 97-3 (Hales 54, Root 2)
Not a convincing way to get to fifty – an inside edge, just past the top of leg stump for four – but that’s Hales’ fifth in as many matches this series. John Starbuck emails in to call Morgan an “eedjit”. Nine from the over...
Fifth successive odi fifty for Alex Hales, fifth Englishman to do so. First in one series https://t.co/0s7XiF5YBm
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) February 14, 2016
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18th over: England 85-3 (Hales 44, Stokes 0)
David Wiese comes into the attack after the drinks break and is immediately in the game, as Hales edges him, but safely down to third man for four. Another edge, as Morgan charges waywardly, and a wicket, though, ends a productive over from the allrounder. Morgan bows his head...
Eoin Morgan. 64 runs this series at 12.80
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) February 14, 2016
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WICKET! Morgan c de Kock b Wiese 2 (England 85-3)
Morgan charges Wiese and keeps going – stretching out to reach a delivery going down the off side which he edges through to the keeper...
16th over: England 79-2 (Hales 39, Morgan 1)
Hales takes a single down the ground and Tahir has Morgan to bowl at. AB de Villiers has two men behind point – a gully and a fly slip. Unperturbed, Morgan attempts a reverse sweep but gets nothing but air. Eventually, a tuck into the leg side gets him off strike.
15th over: England 77-2 (Hales 38, Morgan 0)
Hales brings Morgan on strike, who just watches the last two deliveries of the over drift past his off stump.
14th over: England 76-2 (Hales 37, Morgan 0)
Tahir gets the key wicket of Root, meaning Amla’s drop only costs 15. In comes Eoin Morgan – 23, 29, 8, 2 so far this series and in desperate need of a big score here...
WICKET! Root LBW Tahir 27 (England 76-2)
It’s so very out. Middle of middle, stuff. The umpire?
Poor old Johan Cloete. A rule of thumb is quickly developing...
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) February 14, 2016
REVIEW
Joe Root sweeps and is trapped well enough for a wailing appeal from Tahir. The umpire says not out and de Villiers decides to review... it looks very close...
13th over: England 73-1 (Hales 35, Root 26)
Abbott loose and even the half chance created from a short ball, which Hales hooks high for four, beating Tahir’s effort on the bounce, isn’t exactly a sensible plan.
Fifth 50+ partnership of the series for Hales and Root. Nos. 2 and 3 very solid in this England ODI XI #SAvEng
— Alan R Gardner (@alanroderick) February 14, 2016
12th over: England 67-1 (Hales 34, Root 21)
Tahir returns and Hales holds his shape nicely to punch down the ground for one. Only two from the over... nope, four, after a poor misfield allows runs through point. Tahir isn’t impressed...
@Vitu_E is there an argument go try Taylor of Bairstow as an ODI opener? If Roy's SR isn't over 130 then would they score more as quickly?
— Chris evans (@captbnut) February 14, 2016
11th over: England 63-1 (Hales 31, Root 20)
It’s also worth noting, as mentioned by Adam Perkins on Twitter, that if Hales hadn’t talked Roy out of reviewing his decision (the impact with the stumps was umpire’s call, so would have remained out), there would not have been a review for Hales to use. Phew... Kyle Abbott comes back into the attack for the nth bowling change. Root tucks into midwicket for a couple. Not the best set from Abbott but it only costs four runs.
10th over: England 59-1 (Hales 30, Root 17)
Morris bowls a beauty of an inswinging yorker and, somehow, the ball misses the stumps and shoots off for four. The replay shows that Hales’ timbers were saved by an inside edge. Not for the first time, Morris is unable to follow that up with something worthwhile as Hales punches through the covers for four. That’s the end of your first ten.
Below is a picture of the Hales incident that umpire Cloete thought was caught behind...
Hales successfully reviews caught behind decision - Eng 45-1 off 8, Roy the man out lbw. https://t.co/mJRrSkFBa0 pic.twitter.com/VSPBAkic9c
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 14, 2016
9th over: England 50-1 (Hales 22, Root 17)
After the drama of the previous over, a sedate opening five deliveries from Rabada is ruined by a misdirected short ball that is pulled smartly around the corner for four.
8th over: England 45-1 (Hales 21, Root 13)
Leg gully in play, as Morris darts one into Root, who is moving across his stumps. The resulting flick is just beyond the finger tips of Rossouw for two. THEN A DROP! How big will that be?! Joe Root drives and nicks Morris. The ball drifts to Amla, who has a simple catch to take but is nutmegged. The single is taken and the umpire’s finger is up as Hales drives, misses – by about the size of a small village. Morris actually turned away as the delivery was collected by the keeper. Hales reviews, the umpire looks a fool and we move on.
Johan Cloete was umpire of the year in SA. What were the others like?
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) February 14, 2016
REVIEW
Hales drives, the umpire gives it out, Hales reviews and there is clear daylight between bat and ball. Honestly, an absolutely horrendous decision... NOT OUT
7th over: England 40-1 (Hales 20, Root 10)
A change of ends for Rabada who starts with a lazy delivery on the shoes that Hales works fine for a four. Runs flowing now, as another comes through point, as Hales jabs off the back foot: Rilee Rossouw chased the ball down and got to it, but the moisture in the outfield causes him to slip and kick the sponge, ball in hand. Inside edge down to fine leg goes for two. Ten from the over.
6th over: England 30-1 (Hales 10, Root 10)
Double change from AB and, well, he might be trying to be too smart here. Alex Hales picks off Chris Morris through midwicket for four before Joe Root’s first delivery is on his toes and duly flicked to square leg for another. But that’s a brute! Morris digs on in short and Root fends in the direction of the slips but well over the head of Amla. One at the ribs is worked beyond the dive of Quinton de Kock for another four before a third bumper his punched (literally) into the off side for a dot. Eventful...
5th over: England 15-1 (Hales 5)
Well, this is interesting... Imran Tahir comes into the attack. An odd move considering the new ball and conditions favouring the quick bowlers. I suppose given the control, AB de Villiers reckons he can eke out a big shot from one of these two (mid on’s back, accordingly). Sensible stuff so far, until Roy goes back and nearly chops onto his stumps. And then, to the final delivery, Tahir gets one to turn sharply, with Roy looking to heave it into the legside. It’s too quick off the pitch for him to readjust and he’s trapped in front of middle.
WICKET! Roy LBW Tahir 8 (South Africa 15-1)
Tahir, a surprise in the first 10 overs, bowls back of a length but the ball turns sharply and skids on to trap Roy well in front. So ends a disappointing series for the Surrey batsman...
4th over: England 12-0 (Roy 7, Hales 3)
Roy keeps the KP comparison’s coming with a Red Bull run to mid off – AB DE VILLIERS! – where the gather is immaculate and the throw slightly off line, with Roy so very short of his ground. Another excellent over for South Africa gives England just two.
3rd over: England 10-0 (Roy 6, Hales 3)
Hales getting the ball out of the middle but finds extra cover and point, all along the carpet. He tries to manufacture something into midwicket but finds the fielder there, before Abbott pushes him back into his crease with the final delivery. Just one from the over.
2nd over: England 9-0 (Roy 5, Hales 3)
Kagiso Rabada opens up and is immediately carved over cover for a couple by Roy, who naturally has that “hand in the cookie jar” look on his face, but it was ten fold that time, knowing the shot was more edge than middle. Not as much width for the next three deliveries. Roy keeps the strike, dropping one just beyond the dive of Faf du Plessis at point. South Africa were awesome in the 30-yard circle at Jo-Burg.
1st over: England 6-0 (Roy 2, Hales 3)
MOVEMENT! To those just joining us, it rained this morning so not only is there “moisture in the pitch” but there’s also “a bit of nip off the pitch” and “swing in the air”. So much so that, after Jason Roy gets squared up by a couple, AB de Villiers opts for three slips when Alex Hales gets on strike. Abbott keeps them out of the game though with a leg stump half volley which Hales pushes through midwicket for three.
As well as the men’s decider, the England and South Africa women are duking it out in Johannesburg.
It’s 1-1 in their series after, like the men, England were unable to defend 263 in the previous ODI. Charlotte Edwards won the toss and has elected to bowl. You can find TMS commentary of that match here.
Back to Cape Town, despite the early downpour, we’re not expecting any more rain. In fact, the forecast looks very good for the rest of the day...
Newlands now with an extra feature. pic.twitter.com/pIhpyILbZ7
— Simon Mann (@Cricket_Mann) February 14, 2016
MORNING CALL
Happy Singles Awareness Day, OBO-ers. Before I dish out some slack whimsy, we have some news...
South Africa have won the toss and elected to field in this fifth and deciding ODI at Cape Town. It had been raining up until about 9:30am local time, which might have influenced AB de Villiers decision to bowl first: moisture about, clouds in the sky, the moon aligning with Lucas Radebe – that sort of jazz. Rilee Rossouw replaces JP Duminy; England are unchanged.
South Africa: HM Amla, Q de Kock†, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers*, RR Rossouw, F Behardien, D Wiese, CH Morris, K Rabada, KJ Abbott, Imran Tahir
England: JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan*, BA Stokes, JC Buttler†, MM Ali, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, AU Rashid, RJW Topley
Vithushan will be with you shortly. In the meantime you can enjoy Vic Marks’s preview of the series finale:
Table Mountain provides the unforgettable backdrop to an unusually memorable ODI series. Now level at 2-2, England and South Africa are busting their guts to win and there will not be a spare seat to be found at Newlands on Sunday.
There was the chance this series might be overshadowed by the imminent World T20 tournament, but it has developed a significance of its own. South Africa yearn to protect a proud home record; England, eagerly seeking to gain experience fast and win games simultaneously, know that a victory here would be a great advance in their one-day evolution.
To add to an inviting cocktail, the games themselves have often provided a gripping spectacle, especially so at the Bullring on Friday night. Yes, there were mistakes galore but this format is not all about the pursuit of perfection, it is about melodrama with fortunes swaying vigorously to and fro, about individual torment and delight. All that was on show at the Wanderers in glorious technicolour (well, mostly pink actually).
Joe Root offered a hint of perfection, there was the return of Chris Woakes, gutsy and vibrant having been rejected (from the ODI team until Friday and from the World T20 squad); the recall of Stuart Broad was a stark reminder that reputation counts for practically nothing in the modern white-ball game.
… and that’s just the start – you can find the rest of it here:
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