Centurion - The blueprint for the Proteas’ success in this one-day international series was clearly illustrated last night.
For all the worries about the balance of South Africa’s starting XI, it’s their top four batsmen who will determine their fate. Last night, that quartet – specifically the openers – clicked.
Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock shared an enthralling 239-run stand for the first wicket to blow England away and keep their side’s hopes in the five-match series alive. It was a clinical showing by the opening duo. De Kock was in superb touch in Bloemfontein last week with a career-best effort and there was more of that on display last night. In fact, it could be argued that his stroke-play was more precise than in the series opener.
He set the tone early with some beautiful drives when the ball was pitched up, and in case England wanted to test the bounce in the surface – as South Africa’s bowlers did too in the afternoon – he whipped them imperiously off his legs.
Amla, having failed in the first two matches, allowed his partner to dominate in the early stages. In sedate fashion he got himself into the 20s and when the occasion warranted, unleashed some stylish strokes as the hosts rapidly assumed the ascendency.
England had little answer. Their quick bowlers weren’t able to extricate anything out of a docile surface and their spinners struggled, too.
Amla and De Kock were able to bring up the Proteas’ first century stand in ODIs since August last year, when Amla and Morne van Wyk shared a partnership of 108 against New Zealand at the same ground.
At that time, De Kock had been dropped from the side following a poor run of form. That break from the national team – regardless of what he has said – has done him the world of good.
He played magnificently in India last October and when recalled to the Test side – after the incident with his puppies – he made a fine maiden hundred in the last match of the Test series against England at last night’s venue.
Yesterday, he was dominant in making his 10th ton of his ODI career, and doing so in typically flamboyant fashion. He and Amla registered South Africa’s third 200-run partnership in ODIs for the first wicket.
Nevermind building a foundation; the pair effectively won the game for the Proteas and the finishing touches were applied with a fair amount of comfort.
Amla brought up his 22nd ODI century – breaking him clear of Herschelle Gibbs on 21 and leaving him one behind AB de Villiers – as South Africa closed in on a crucial win.
England’s innings was dominated by a fine century from Joe Root. The quality of the knock was not down to it’s aesthetics – not initially anyway – and rather his resolve. Root battled early on to come to terms with the two-paced nature of the surface and rather than just try to hang around, he threw his bat at the ball and got away some fortunate inside and outside edges.
Such is the manner of England’s ODIy batting these days, though, that the luck Root and Alex Hales had early on was deserved. To play in such an attacking manner is something England is still getting used to, but the benefits will be fruitful.
Root and Hales added 125 for the second wicket – the opener notched up a third consecutive fifty – while Root got to his seventh ODI century, once again underlining his class on a tour in which he has shone.
There was a typically bruising half-century from Ben Stokes, but the difference between the visitors’ very good total and one that would have put them out of sight of the hosts was the loss of four wickets for 24 runs in 31 balls at the end of their innings.
On a flat pitch, South Africa’s bowling was okay. They initially seemed unable to decide which length to bowl and, if anything, they were too short. But they soon managed to keep England – with the exception of Stokes – in check. - Cape Times