ICC World Cup 2019
Match 1 - England Vs South Africa
Ben Stokes all round show at Oval
No more wait hereafter, cricket feast ICC World Cup 2019 started with a opening match between the Hosts England and South Africa. Both the top team in world played for their first win in world cup 2019. First innings of this match went interesting but the second innings completely moved to one side. England bat first after the toss, they included Jofra Archer and Liam Plunkett apart from regular players. South Africa's Dale Steyn missed this match due to injury, Ngidi came in, Phelukwayo and Pretorius as all rounders.
Most dangerous opener combo in the world Johnny Bairstow and Jason Roy came to open the innings for England. Faf Du Plesis followed the ideas of their CSK captain Dhoni. He made Imran Tahir to bowl first over. They know Bairstow will struggle against spinners. In second ball itself tahir completed the mission assigned to him. He departed bairstow at the second ball of 1st over for a duck. England audience stunned for some time. But Roy and Root made the foundation strong for England. They both scoring runs by rotating strike and even not letting the run rate down. Both scored centuries. Then Rabada and Phelukwayo removed both in consecutive overs. Root gone for 51 runs and Roy gone for 54 runs. Captain Eoin Morgan played wonderful at middle scored his half century. He played unusual from his game, he hit two consecutive sixes at Ngidi's over. Finally gone for 57 runs. Then Ben Stokes stood at one end and increasing the score. But at the other end England losing wickets continuously. Once England had chances for scoring 350+ runs. But Stokes didnt get any support and England scored 311/8 at the end of 50 overs. Ben Stokes remains not out with a wonderful half century 89 runs from 79 balls at pressure situation.
Almost all South African bowler kept their economy in 6. Lungi Ngidi took 3 wickets, Rabada and Tahir took 2 wickets each.
South Africa started the chase with Hashim Amla and Quinton De Cock. But Archer made Amla to visit pavilion with an injury. Amla left the pitch with retired hurt. Aiden Markram put hands together with Decock. But Archer didnt alow them to build partnership. He removed Markram for 11 runs. In his next over Archer removed the inform batsman cum skipper of South Africa Faf Du Plesis for 5 runs. Quinton scored his half century and lost his wicket for 68 runs. But he survived previously by luck. At Adil Rashid's over he got bowled, the bails too linked. Adil thought that its a wicket and Keeper Butler also thought it a wicket and forget to collect the ball. But bails didnt fall and the ball went to boundary. After that nothing happened positive to South Africa except the half century from Van der Dussen. Phelukwayo played a wonderful innings but got out from a unbelievable catch from Ben Stokes. Phelukwayo slogs the ball from Rashid, Stokes dived, jumped and caught it with one hand that too on right hand and landed on ground perfectly without any injury. Definitely this will be the catch of this season. Finally South Africa went all out for 207 runs at 40th over. Archer took three main wickets Markram, Duplesis and Dussen. If Stokes made a blow in batting, bowling and fielding, Archer did in bowling.
ODI ranking no 1 England won the first match in ICC world cup 2019 that too against a big team and proved they will qualify for semi finals. South Africa still lot of changes need to do in the team. Amla and Duminy form is questionable at this time. They have to back with a bang. The Protea are facing team India at their second match on July5th 2019. Hope Faf will correct the mistakes they have done against England.
Man of the Match: Ben Stokes
Comments
Post a Comment