Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma leads South Africa to a comfortable 7 wicket win in the first ODI

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Picture Courtsey: EWN

Thanks to brilliant knocks by Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma, South Africa started the One-day international series against defending Champions England with a 7-wicket win played at New lands, Cape Town on Tuesday.

South Africa newly appointed captain Quinton de Kock won the toss and decided to field first. The England openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow started on a cautious note before taking on South Africa bowlers. With pacers going for runs, de Kock bought Jon Jon Smuts into the attack and got the result immediately dismissing the dangerous Roy for a run ball 32. The England openers added 51 runs. At the end of 10 overs, England were 52 for 1.

Soon after the power play overs, Phehlukawyo got the wicket of another opener Jonny Bairstow. The experienced duo of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan steadied the innings putting on 30 runs for the 3rd wicket before a brilliant direct hit by Van der Dussen ended Root innings. Shamsi dismissed England captain Eoin Morgan off the very next ball with a good catch by Bavuma. Tom Banton looked impressive with his strokes on his ODI debut before Shamsi dismissed him. The umpire gave it out and Banton decided to review it, the decision was upheld as England crumbled to 108 for 5.

Shamsi got his 3rd wicket of the innings dismissing Sam Curran cheaply for 7. Coming at number 5, Joe Denly impressed with his technique and shot making along. On the other hand, Woakes played according to the situation. Denly reached his fifty off 72 balls and added 91 runs for the 7th wicket. Woakes was dismissed for 40. After completing his half-century, Denly tried to show his power and got out in the last over. England posted 258 for 8 at the end of 50 overs. Shamsi was pick of bowlers with 3 for 40, Smuts, Phehlukawyo, Siplama, Beuran Hendricks took 1 wicket each.

Chasing 259 runs to win, Reeza Hendricks was given out for LBW but decided to review the decision. On review the umpire had to change its decision to not out as it was going down leg stump. The South African captain de Kock took time to settle on a slow pitch. Chris Woakes got the breakthrough dismissing Hendricks for 6. At the end of 10 overs, South Africa were 41 for 1.

After the power play overs, de Kock and Bavuma showed their class with attacking stroke play making life tough for the England bowlers. The newly appointed captain de Kock reached his fifty off 61 balls while Bavuma completed his half-century off 53 balls. Both looked in complete control taking singles and hitting boundaries at will. de Kock reached his century with a lovely boundary off 106 balls. Quinton de Kock was finally dismissed for well made 107 and added 173 runs for the 2nd wicket.

Rassie Van der Dussen played some lovely strokes and made sure that South Africa do not panic. Bavuma fell short of his century by just 2 runs as he was dismissed by Chris Jordan. Jon Smuts struggled to time the ball but Dussen looked mighty impressive. Smuts hit the winning runs and helped South Africa win the first ODI by 7 wickets.

South Africa 259 for 3 in 47.4 overs (Quinton de Kock 107, Temba Bavuma 98, Chris Woakes 1/36, Chris Jordan 1/31) beat England 258 for 8 in 50 overs (Joe Denly 87, Woakes 40, Shamsi 3/40) by 7 wickets.

For his 107 runs, de Kock was awarded the man of the match. South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. The 2nd match will be played on 7th February at Durban.

 

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