Bloemfontein - Don’t be deceived by the spirited fight led by Quinton de Kock in driving South Africa’s pursuit of a substantial target.
If the home team had bowled better, the outcome of this opening one-day international at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night would have been different.
South Africa’s bowlers served up utter dross with the ball upon which England’s batsmen, in particular Jos Buttler, happily feasted.
A B de Villiers, standing at mid-on, was often seen scratching his head or wiping his face, wearing a look of sheer exasperation.
Where could he place fielders for bowlers who failed to keep the ball one side of the wicket, or whose lengths varied from ball to ball?
England were never under pressure and their aggressive approach was admirable, but there was too much help from South Africa’s bowlers.
Alex Hales, Joe Root and Ben Stokes scored among the easier half-centuries of their careers, and as thrilling as some of his stroke play was, Buttler was barely tested throughout his 76-ball stay.
Kagiso Rabada’s omission was an error. Yes, the youngster needs a break, but South Africa needed to win this first match – they threw away an advantage by not picking a bowler high on confidence.
Marchant de Lange looked like a bowler who has only been a peripheral figure for his franchise this season.
De Lange went for 87 in 10 overs, and the rest of the bowlers weren’t much better.
Morkel conceded 70, which was the lowest among the South African bowlers, while the fifth bowler ration, shared by Farhaan Behardien and J P Duminy, went for 93.
England shared four partnerships of 50 or more runs, the best of those between Buttler and Root, which totalled 97 for the third wicket.
It was Buttler’s fourth century, his second in a row, and he seemed intent to live up to the billing of being his side’s answer to De Villiers.
The tourists smashed 15 sixes, the most they’ve managed in an ODI innings in what turned into England’s second-highest ODI total.
De Kock was in excellent touch as South Africa chased 400, and while his partnership with Faf du Plessis was in progress the home team were ahead of the required run rate. England, while lacking zip with the ball, were nowhere near as bad as the South Africans.
Chris Jordan was the only one who really struggled – taking a page out of the home team’s books, he bowled both sides of the stumps and conceded 56 runs in 5.3 overs.
De Kock was unbeaten on 138 – a career-best innings – when rain halted play in the 34th over. He’d faced 96 balls and hit 12 fours and six sixes.
But the South Africans couldn’t string sufficient partnerships together, with Du Plessis and De Kock’s stand of 110 for the second wicket the best they could muster.
Moeen Ali picked up three wickets, including that of De Villiers, thanks to a stunning catch on the boundary by the magical Stokes.
Standing at long-on, the big all-rounder sprinted to his right and stuck out his right hand to snatch the ball as it passed him, pulling off one of the best catches this season.
Whether he’d have stood on the rope had it been in it’s proper position seems inconsequential – it was just a brilliant piece of athleticism.
The series moves to Port Elizabeth on Saturday, with the home team now under enormous pressure.
The Mercury