slower ball, in the slot, slammed on the up over long-off! Miller seals it in style, high over the ropes, a mighty run-chase to seal a vital 2-0 series win!
South Africa vs England, 2nd ODI at Bloemfontein, SA v ENG, Jan 29 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
2nd ODI, Bloemfontein, January 29, 2023, England tour of South Africa
342/7
(49.1/50 ov, T:343) 347/5
South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
New
SA
Full commentary
6.48pm Remarkable stuff. A mighty chase from South Africa, and a vastly impressive win. The final match of this brief stop-over is in Kimberley on Wednesday. It's a dead-rubber but with World Cup qualification up for grabs, there's still plenty on it for South Africa. From Alan, Miller and Thilak, good night!
Presentation time. "SA bowled really well, picked up early wickets, thought 340 was a fantastic effort, but a great chase," says Jos Buttler. "The wicket may have got tougher as it got older, but Markram, Klaasen and Miller had great momentum when they came in.
"There's a bigger picture in terms of building towards the World Cup, but we want to build confidence by winning games too."
The Player of the Match is Temba Bavuma: "Very special, playing against England is always a tough ask, a good opportunity to test our way of playing, chasing 340 like that gives us a lot of confidence. Very enjoyable century, these wickets suit the way we want to play. Good to remind myself how to count to 100 too. The guys were quite calm, something miraculous could have happened for us to lose that game. We tried to dominate the first ten overs, they lifted their intensity but we stayed in it. We took the situation out of it and played the conditions. Lovely crowd, to see all the people in the stands was magnificent. We're looking forward to Kimberley, it will be another opportunity to execute our plan."
6.35pm So, some ugly analyses for England's bowlers, Woakes and Topley in particular. Credit due to Stone, who went at less than 5 an over, which is quite something in this context. They must have thought 342 would be ample. But not in the brave new world of T20-inspired run-chases!
Gopal Purohit: "Phew, gotta say, Ollie Stone made me mighty nervous. Really happy for South Africa, especially Temba Bavuma. Hope this marks a sensational comeback for him like Kohli's."
George Macphers: "There you go. A series loss for England. They were 15-20 runs short of a defendable total. Back to the drawing by board for them. Need to perform a lot better in order to prevent a 3-0 loss. " Not sure it's right back to square one, in all seriousness. England know what they are lacking... and it's most of their 2019 batting order, plus their two fastest bowlers
Senzo: "Well, it seems like having a good local T20 league could pay off for SA. Contrary to what the doomsayers are saying " Indeed. It's actually what they've needed... it's fired up the crowds, and created a buzz that has been palpably lacking in recent years. Finding space in the schedule is the other matter...
6.31pm What a chase from South Africa! The highest on this ground, and one that was set up by a brilliant century from their captain, Temba Bavuma. He was hampered by cramp at the end of his knock, but David Miller didn't blink in marshalling the back-end of a hefty hunt. A fifth consecutive loss in ODIs for England, their worst run since the 2015 World Cup, and while there's no suggestion they've sunk that low, there's certainly food for thought in their own run-in to the 2023 tournament.
Affan: "Miller is the best finisher in the world at the moment. Timed his innings and shots to perfection "
Right, two to win. Miller on strike. This is set up for scenes in Bloemfontein...
Virendra: "I knew that would get published :-D Second comment in 15 years on Cricinfo." I love a bit of 90s catnip
end of over 4910 runs
SA: 341/5CRR: 6.95 • RRR: 2.00 • Need 2 runs from 6b
Marco Jansen32 (29b 1x4 1x6)
David Miller52 (36b 2x4 2x6)
Sam Curran 10-1-60-1
Olly Stone 10-1-48-2
48.6
4
Sam Curran to Jansen, FOUR runs
thrashed off the back foot through the covers! There it was, licence to have a lump, the ball sat up outside off, and he responded with a solid base and a powerful unfettering of the levers!
Big final ball. Maybe even a free swing for Jansen, like Archer in the World Cup final (and that went well...)
Afeef: "IF a tie occurs, will there be a super over?" Apparently there will... gulp!
48.5
•
Sam Curran to Jansen, no run
cramped on the pads as Curran finds an inswinger from over the wicket, on a full length, deflected out to point
48.4
2
Sam Curran to Jansen, 2 runs
yorker, well directed but excellently flicked off the toes by a well-set Jansen. No panic as they come back for the second. It's a blow away now...
Virendra: "Well 31 years ago SA would have required 18 runs a ball against England. If you know what I mean :-P" Hmmm...
48.3
2
Sam Curran to Jansen, 2 runs
sits back on the pull, back past the bowler, sticks in the pitch but Curran can't get close to the return chance. Roy slides to gather at long-on
48.2
1
Sam Curran to Miller, 1 run
wide line, toe-ended on the drive to long-off. Some anxious pacing in the home dressing-room now
48.1
1
Sam Curran to Jansen, 1 run
steps across his stumps, Curran responds with a knee-high full toss, clipped to deep square leg for the single. Fifty partnership too
Mufaddal K: "Jansen will give it go next over with Miller anchoring the other end" There is some logic to this... levers ho!
end of over 486 runs
SA: 331/5CRR: 6.89 • RRR: 6.00 • Need 12 runs from 12b
David Miller51 (35b 2x4 2x6)
Marco Jansen23 (24b 1x6)
Olly Stone 10-1-48-2
Sam Curran 9-1-50-1
Sankar: "Still it's nervy for SA" Certainly is. Remember, there's World Cup qualification on the line too. This is a very important win up for grabs
47.6
•
Stone to Miller, no run
swivels into the pull, hit straight at short midwicket. No run there, and that's the end of a testy spell from Stone. He's taken this as deep as he possibly could
47.6
1w
Stone to Miller, 1 wide
fired past the legs, so close as Miller aims a flick off his pads and is frustrated he missed out. Any tickle and that was four
47.5
3
Stone to Jansen, 3 runs
flat-batted swing, under-edged inches past the stumps! So close, but it's away into unguarded territory at fine leg. A long desperate chase, and it's back to a run-a-ball 13 needed...
47.4
•
Stone to Jansen, no run
very full, Stone flings himself across the crease and snaffles in his followthrough... another dot, just to crank that rate up a touch
47.3
•
Stone to Jansen, no run
extra pace on that one, back on a feisty off-stump line, just back of a length, climbing through Jansen's wafty launch
Kannadachi : "If someone can pull the rabbit out of the hat for England, it is Sam Curran. Wonderful variations, bowls to the field that has been set!" He'll certainly get a death over... but how much will he have to defend?
47.2
1
Stone to Miller, 1 run
full toss, outswinger... dropped at short cover! Oh my... Moeen dives to his left, gets both hands to it, but can't close his fingers round the chance!
47.1
1
Stone to Jansen, 1 run
full length, flogged off the front foot out to deep midwicket. Just the single as the sweeper tidies up
So, a run a ball 18. It might have been nervy in 1993... but this is 30 years on now!
end of over 475 runs
SA: 325/5CRR: 6.91 • RRR: 6.00 • Need 18 runs from 18b
David Miller50 (33b 2x4 2x6)
Marco Jansen19 (20b 1x6)
Sam Curran 9-1-50-1
Olly Stone 9-1-42-2
46.6
2
Sam Curran to Miller, 2 runs
timed exquisitely off the back foot, in front of square. A long chase for the cover sweeper, and that's a super matchwinning fifty (for this is won, isn't it...?)
46.5
1
Sam Curran to Jansen, 1 run
stands and delivers with a back-foot bash down to long-on. Another single
46.4
1
Sam Curran to Miller, 1 run
wide again, clubbed out to the cover sweeper. The crowd liked that connection
Not exactly panic stations for South Africa, but they've been made to work for the last few balls
46.3
•
Sam Curran to Miller, no run
zips one through a big wind-up from Miller, who wants to get this over with. Another cutter, skids low to the keeper
46.2
1
Sam Curran to Jansen, 1 run
very full length, outside off, and driven to long-off
46.1
•
Sam Curran to Jansen, no run
over the wicket, pace off, outside the eyeline, toe-ended on a back-foot drive to cover
England scored 60 from this point in their innings... South Africa, however, only need 23
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