ICC World Cup 2019: England beat South Africa by 104 runs in opener
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| Image Credits: Twitter/@ICC |
Ben Stokes scored the highest of 89, and after the host team sent for batting, scored a competitive total of 311 for eight.
Jopra Archer took two early wickets and South Africa never saw the possibility of reaching their goal, getting out of the 20th over in the 40th over, gave the World Cup favorite England the right start.
Stokes said, "I'm sure some nervous kicks were all around - I`ve never felt that it's not so in the long run. It's a great start to come up with victory."
"As we did, to perform - I think we have done the best in almost two or three years." The score we scored was fantastic. "
England lost Johnny Bairstow on the second ball of the match, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock caught by spinner Imran Tahir, but Jason Roy and Joe Root shared a 106-run partnership to stabilize the hosts.
Roy never threatened to end the bowling, as he has done regularly in recent matches, he added 54 runs before Andy Fehlukewo to dismiss Faf du Plessis on the mid-off.
After three balls, the route departed for 51, JP Duminy played a loose drive on Kagiso Rabada to give an easy catch to the backward point and leave England for 111 for the CAG.
South Africa continued to bowl to Morgan and Stokes for determining the inability of the innings to rebuild the innings. At the age of 57, Morgan got a great performance, caught off-spinner Tahir at Eden Marcrum's ball, this fielder dived forward to catch the ball from the turf, and England failed to cut it free.
Jos Buttler scored 18 runs, Moin Ali scored three runs before being caught by du Plessis and Chris Woakes, it was a great catch, as 76 runs in the last 10 overs and finished the match in half way.
South African opener Hashim Amla was forced to get injured after being hit on the helmet by short delivery of Archer and England took wickets in regular intervals.
Marcaram, Root took 11 wickets in the slip and Captain du Plessis caught by five runs and hit the fine leg on fast bowler Moinen Ball.
D.Coke scored 68 runs and Rassie Van der Dussen made 50, the pair shared a 85-run third wicket partnership to keep South Africa in the match.
However, Dick was caught on the leg leg by Leg Plunkett, and when the Archer returned to attack Van der Dussen to catch Moyen's hand, South Africa's hopes looked bleak.
Stokes took a spectacular diving catch at the boundary to dismiss Fehlukwe and the last three wickets quickly fell, including the staff who returned to the crease but were out for 13 runs.
Du Plessis said, "We were dismissed in all three departments." Jopra Archer took two wickets and Hashim Amla (injury) also took two wickets, so it was basically three down. "
"I thought 300 was equal but there were some good batting performances from England."
