Johannesburg - Chris Morris blasted to his maiden One-Day International half-century to lead South Africa to a dramatic one-wicket victory over England at the Wanderers on Friday evening to draw the Momentum series 2-2 with a match remaining.
While the rest of the South African batting lineup capitulated Morris emerged out of the ashes with South Africa on 210 for eight requiring 53 runs from 51 deliveries.
Morris scored a magnificent 62 from 38 balls that included three boundaries and four sixes before losing his wicket Adil Rashid with South Africa needing a run for the victory.
Last man in Imran Tahir who earlier starred with the ball shrugged off the pressure sending his first delivery from Rashid through the covers for four to claim the victory.
Without a lynchpin early in the innings South Africa stuttered before chasing down the 263 target for the victory.
The loss of both Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock in quick succession was a massive blow for the Proteas as they were patiently chipping away at the target set by the English.
Before Morris' knock not a single batsman scored more than 30 runs in an innings that was marred by poor running between the wickets, and some poor fielding by England.
The duo shared a second-wicket partnership of 61 runs following the early loss of Hashim Amla, who played Stuart Broad’s and the sixth of the innings onto his stumps to depart on a duck.
De Kock fell on 27 runs playing a Ben Stokes ball onto his wicket before Chris Woakes bowled Du Plessis’ (34) off stump to leave two new batsmen at the crease.
AB de Villiers and JP Duminy received a triumvirate of second lives as average English fielding aided the Proteas in their run chase.
First Duminy was dropped by Alex Hales at second slip before surviving a narrow LBW decision costing the English their review.
Looking to steal a single, Duminy jabbed the ball with De Villiers (36) caught well out of the crease running from the non-strikers end as Woakes struck the stumps with an underarm throw on his follow through.
Duminy’s (31) luck ran out as Adil Shahid caught the South African leg before with South Africa needing 120 runs with five wickets in hand.
Farhaan Behardien (38) and David Wiese momentarily stabilised the innings with a shared partnership of 48 runs.
A freakish piece of fielding by Woakes broke their stand as he stuck his left hand out on his follow through to take the catch to dismiss Behardien.
Earlier, Tahir struck with three wickets within three overs to spark a mini English batting collapse before Kagiso Rabada planted the final nail as the tourists were bowled all out for 262.
Joe Root produced another fine knock to avert a complete English collapse as he scored his eighth ODI with his 109 from 124 deliveries.
Rabada was in fine form boasting with figures of 4/45 while Tahir’s first spell swung the innings in South Africa’s favour with his haul of 3/46.
Independent Media