Ben Stokes stars with bat, ball and a catch for the ages as England beats South Africa
England open the World Cup with a 104 run win over South Africa, thanks in large part to Ben Stokes, who top scored with 89, took two wickets and pulled off one of the greatest catches in World Cup history for good measure.
Ben Stokes starred in all departments as England began their quest to win the World Cup with a 104-run thrashing of South Africa in the tournament opener at the Oval
It was the statement win sought by the hot title favorites, but not as expected on Thursday.
The bowlers and fielders starred rather than the batsmen, notably newcomer Jofra Archer , who took three wickets and generated pace that scared the South Africa top order, and Stokes, who capped an all-round effort with a brilliant, high one-handed catch while running backwards and side on to the ball.
Stokes top-scored with 89 in England’s 311 for eight, held a brilliant catch in the outfield and took two for 12, including the last wicket, as England won with 61 balls left.
Jofra Archer looked instantly at home in his first World Cup outing.
“To be honest I was in the wrong position,” Stokes said. “If I was in the right position it would have been regulation.”
Because England has been putting up huge totals, 311-8 on a green-tinged pitch seemed only decent, though the home side was content.
They were certain they could defend it, despite chasing sides having an excellent record at the Oval. Their cause was helped by South Africa blowing the script, again. The pressure was too much to bear on a batting lineup not as deep as England’s and South Africa was all out for 207 in the 40th over.
The South Africa innings was highlighted by opener Hashim Amla rebounding from being hit in the grill by a 145-kph (90-mph) Archer bouncer in the fourth over. He walked off for concussion tests, and returned in the 37th over to immediately face Archer. Amla lasted two more overs and was out for 13, nicking behind a Liam Plunkett bouncer.
“Hashim was all over the place when he came off the field but hopefully he is OK for the next game,” captain Faf du Plessis said.
Archer bounced out Aiden Markram for 11 and claimed the prize wicket of du Plessis, who pulled him straight to fine leg on 5, reducing the Proteas to 44-2 1/2.
“My bouncer is a wicket-taking ball and a dot ball so I’d be stupid not to use it,” said Archer, who made his fast-tracked debut only this month. Quinton de Kock was put under pressure to dig in and deliver, but after he was out for 68, South Africa’s chase faded.
Only Rassie van der Dussen, who was dropped on 6, resisted for long with 50. The last seven wickets cost England only 78 runs. Plunkett took two wickets and Stokes took the last two in two balls, and that catch at deep midwicket. South Africa put pressure on itself before the match when bowler Dwaine Pretorius was picked ahead of batsman Chris Miller.
The bowlers had to restrict England, which was made to bat first, and the plan seemed to work perfectly two balls into the match when Jonny Bairstow became the first opening batsman out for a golden duck in the opening innings of a World Cup.
Imran Tahir, the first spinner to bowl the first ball of a men’s World Cup, induced a faint edge behind from Bairstow and, arms out, went flying around the offside in celebration.
RELIVE THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG AT THE FOOT OF THE PAGE
Ben Stokes takes the acclaim of the crowd after his incredible catch
But if there was any more wickedness in the pitch, as South Africa hoped, the bowlers couldn’t find it.
England used two stands of 106 to pass 300 for the fifth match in a row. Jason Roy and Joe Root scored easily, troubling only umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who was hit on the elbow by a Roy drive that deflected off Root at the non- striker’s end.
The second-wicket pair seemed to do everything in sync. They reached their half-centuries in the same over, the 18th, with singles, and they were out to self-inflicted mistakes within four balls of each other. After completing their third century partnership in five ODIs, Roy was out for 54 off 53 balls. Root made 51 from deliveries.
Eoin Morgan enlivened the near-full crowd with England’s only three sixes. Stokes, slow to the party but motivated by his captain, reached his 50 off 45. Tahir’s return to the attack paid dividends again, though it took a great diving catch by Markram at long-on to remove Morgan on 57 at 217-4. He and Stokes’ stand of 106 came off 108 deliveries.
Then Stokes and his teammates suddenly found scoring harder, under dark clouds. They hit only six boundaries in the last 10 overs.
Jason Roy looked well set before being dismissed shortly after reaching 50
Stokes went on to 89 off 79 balls, out in the 49th over trying to up the rate. “Towards the end, they were really hard to get away, boundaries were hard to come by,” Stokes said. “Just psychologically getting over that 300 mark was a big thing.” Stokes gave Lungi Ngidi his third wicket. Tahir and Kagiso Rabada earned two each.
England next plays Pakistan on Monday. South Africa remains at the Oval to meet Bangladesh on Sunday.
Imran Tahir dismissed Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck in his first over.
Rabada gone, as man of the moment Stokes teases a an errant pull shot that is held at deep midwicket.
England have been near flawless in the field today.
And Stokes – who top scored for England with 89, then took a catch that has to be seen to be believed (and maybe even they you'll struggle) – appropriately, wraps things up with the final wicket next ball. Tahir is caught by Root at second slip, nicking off in the fashion of a No. 11.
ENGLAND WIN BY 104 RUNS
And with more than 10 overs to spare. We had thought 311 was below par but that's just because we're used to seeing his England team get closer to 400 more often than not.
The pitch had something in it which South Africa exploited, but England exploited better.
Archer was electric, England's ground fielding was on point and in Ben Stokes, one of their match winners stood up in all three disciplines.
You probably had longer odds on Winx's last three races than the man of the match award today.
SEEING IS DISBELIEVING
Steve Wilson
Just to give you a sense of the angle Ben Stokes was at when he actually caught the ball, plucked it out of the sky once it had already gone past him, here is a grainy screen shot of the moment.
Still a thing of absolute beauty. Should hang it in a gallery in Paris.
AMLA GONE, FAT LADY WARMS UP
Steve Wilson
Another slow ball bouncer hands Plunkett another wicket.
AMLA GONE for 13 from 23 from his two stays at the crease.
He battled gamely to come back on the field after getting a bang on the helmet from Archer but never looked settled either before or after that.
Amla wafted at it across his face and tickled it back to Buttler, who snaffled it almost apologetically.
Put a fork in this South Africa chase, it's done.
Billy Freeman
Ben Stokes is currently signing autographs in the crowd. The people around him have jaws almost exclusively on the floor.
Why?
Because the England fielder has just pulled off what may very well stand as the catch of this tournament even before the first match is completed.
Rashid lobbed one up to Phehlukwayo, who absolutely battered one out to deep midwicket. Was it to be a four or a six? Neither. Stokes launched himself in to the sky and pulled off a one-handed grab behind himself while in midair.
An absolute beast of a catch. Stunning. Phehlukwayo sloped off to the sheds as the crowd went bananas.
— Out of Context Cricket (@OOCCricket_) May 30, 2019
CATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT? DONE
Steve Wilson
Ben Stokes is currently signing autographs in the crowd. The people around him have jaws almost exclusively on the floor.
Why?
Because the England fielder has just pulled off what may very well stand as the catch of this tournament even before the first match is completed.
Rashid lobbed one up to Phehlukwayo, who absolutely battered one out to deep midwicket. Was it to be a four or a six? Neither. Stokes launched himself in to the sky and pulled off a one-handed grab behind himself while in midair.
An absolute beast of a catch. Stunning. Phehlukwayo sloped off to the sheds as the crowd went bananas.
— Out of Context Cricket (@OOCCricket_) May 30, 2019
A TOUGH ASK
Steve Wilson
So we reach drinks with South Africa needing 132 runs off 96 balls.
If Liam Plunkett can go 12 years and 39 days between World Cup matches – a new record, obviously – and perform as well as he has done today then anything is possible.
But probably not that, in truth.
South Africa have been undone by some intense, smart fielding from England, some self-sabotage in shot selection from the likes of De Kock, Du Plessis and Markram, and a lack of ability to handle the raw pace and prodigious bounce of Archer.
"This is like it's the first time South Africa have ever seen Jofra Archer," says Graeme Smith. "They've been caught out by his pace and bounce."
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Billy Freeman
In an effort to break a tidy looking partnership Morgan turned to Archer to get the job done.
And get the job done he did. All about the pace of the short ball that hurried on to van der Dussen, who mistimed his effort to present the easiest of catches at mid-on.
VAN DER DUSSEN GONE for 50 off 61 balls.
And that brings Amla back to the crease, showing no signs of any trouble after that bang on the helmet from an Archer bouncer.
VDD GONE - ARCHER BACK WITH A BANG
Steve Wilson
In an effort to break a tidy looking partnership Morgan turned to Archer to get the job done.
And get the job done he did. All about the pace of the short ball that hurried on to van der Dussen, who mistimed his effort to present the easiest of catches at mid-on.
VAN DER DUSSEN GONE for 50 off 61 balls.
And that brings Amla back to the crease, showing no signs of any trouble after that bang on the helmet from an Archer bouncer.
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Billy Freeman
Phehlukwayo gets away with one a touch, but has probably earned his luck.
He looked to be caught plumb lbw from where I was watching. It wasn't given and England appealed. Everythign was in order for a dismissal other than it pitching outside leg. Just. really, a matter of millimeters.
But outside is outside and the batsman survives and England lose their review.
FINE MARGINS
Steve Wilson
Phehlukwayo gets away with one a touch, but has probably earned his luck.
He looked to be caught plumb lbw from where I was watching. It wasn't given and England appealed. Everythign was in order for a dismissal other than it pitching outside leg. Just. really, a matter of millimeters.
But outside is outside and the batsman survives and England lose their review.
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