In the second one-day international at the Mangaung Oval, South Africa won by five wickets with five balls remaining after chasing down England’s formidable total of 342 for seven. Bavuma’s century paved the way for the unexpected triumph.
It was a defining moment in the troubled Bavuma’s career following six months in which he missed the tour of England due to injury, struggled at the top of the order before his team was eliminated from the T20 World Cup by the Netherlands, and failed to garner a bid in the SA20. He is the only member of his 16-man squad who is deemed unfit for the country’s brand-new T20 league.
Bavuma, having changed his role from anchor to dasher, had a positive, courageous start, as he did on Friday, but this time maintained till he achieved his third ODI century from only 90 balls.
By the time he edged a scoop against Sam Curran onto his stumps for 109. He had penetrated England’s collective psyche sufficiently to be dismissed by the bowler. Nonetheless, at 174-2, the captain had done everything possible to ensure victory.
South Africa, needing 70 runs from the final ten overs with six wickets in hand, should have cruised to victory, but the significance of the result, with qualification for the World Cup on the line, and dogged bowling and fielding created a late hiccup.
Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed for 27 by a great diving catch by Jos Buttler off Olly Stone, while Aiden Markram was bowled for 49 when Adil Rashid snuck a googly past his inside edge to bowl him.
Bavuma’s stunning century helps South Africa win ODI series
“It was an entertaining game of cricket, but not the result we desired,” Buttler said. You have to give respect to South Africa for the manner they batted.” “We’d rather be winning, but we’re preparing for the World Cup and, as on Friday, there were many positives for us. Olly Stone and Harry Brook both bowled well throughout the middle overs.
“However, even seasoned players like myself find it difficult to get back into the rhythm of the [50-over] game after playing so much T20 cricket, and we’ll get better as we play more games.”
David Miller is one of the game’s most clinical finishers, and he did not pass up the chance to clinch the series. He was ruthless against the short ball and one of the few South African batsmen unfazed by Curran’s deft cutters, punching his way to 58 not out as Marco Jansen launched Rashid for a leg-side six to quiet the nerves.
England’s skipper Buttler scored an unbeaten 94 after openers Jason Roy and Dawid Malan were dismissed early.
Brook and Ben Duckett batted with prudence on a surface that had been uncommonly watered the day before by a groundsman guarding against the intense sun and 35°C heat. Once the early seam movement vanished, though, the conditions were ideal for batting, as Brook demonstrated. Buttler and Curran went wild, plundering 38 runs off Lungi Ngidi’s final two overs. As England scored 181 in the final 20 overs and 60 in the last four.
England’s poor short-ball play
Unfazed by England’s poor short-ball play during their 27-run loss on Friday night, Brook hooked Anrich Nortje for six and four off consecutive balls before twice drawing excellent length deliveries from spinner Keshav Maharaj over the midwicket boundary. His ability to punish flawless spin bowling is one of his many defining characteristics. Ironically, Markram’s off-spin lured a cover boundary cut, and he bowled Brook out for 80 runs.
Buttler was content to observe as he rebuilt the team and fed the strike to Brook, who did the dominating. Despite mercilessly raising the tempo, Buttler failed to strike in the final two overs and missed short on a century.
South Africa deserved their dramatic victory, not least for how they maintained composure each time a wicket fell and formed another partnership. When Rassie van der Dussen, Friday’s century-maker, reverse-swept Rashid straight to Moeen Ali. The required rate increased to eight runs per over with two new batsmen at the crease. Klaasen and Markram remained calm as Buttler juggled bowlers, added a slip, and tried to build pressure. It just did not work.
When the South Africa captain hit his century, he sprang into the air, pointed to the name on the back of his shirt. And then pounded his chest with his right fist clenched.
He appeared to say, “My name is Bavuma, and I possess a large heart.”
Afterward, he responded, “I’ll go with that.” “It was an emotional time; it has been a difficult few months. “I wanted to prove that I belong on this team, and I believe I accomplished it today.”
Wednesday’s final game takes place in Kimberley, 100 miles away. Even though England had lost the series, there were still many reasons to be content. A consolation victory would go a long way toward ensuring the value of this brief tour.
