England win thriller despite Proteas’ spin riot

World Cup 2011 – Match Report: South Africa v England, Group B, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, 6 March 2011

England needed to win this key encounter against South Africa, the best outfit of the tournament so far. They have always stretched South Africa and here again they conquered them in a nail-biter. On a spin friendly track, South African spinners had England on the mat but their batsmen found English bowlers too hot to handle and crumbled during chase.

South Africa went with an unchanged team while for England Ravi Bopara replaced Collingwood. Andrew Strauss chose to bat first after winning the toss. Graeme Smith started with left arm spinner Robin Peterson. This move proved to be a master stroke as Peterson removed both openers, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in his first over. From that moment onwards England were always behind the eight-ball in their innings. Peterson then reduced England to 3 for 15 in his 3rd over when he had Ian Bell caught and bowled.

Jonathan Trott and Bopara rescued England with a 99-run partnership for the 4th wicket. England reached milestone of hundred runs in 26 overs before South Africa’s new trump card, Imran Tahir jolted England’s progress. After being dropped by Steyn, Trott was deceived by Tahir, three balls later, giving him a return catch. He made 52 off 93 balls with 3 fours.

The loss of set batsman, Trott opened the flood gates for England as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Morne Morkel after removing Matt Prior dealt a crushing blow when he trapped Bopara LBW for 60 (98 balls, 3 fours, 1 six). Steyn trapped Bresnan while Imran Tahir came back to polish off the tail. He used his googly efficiently to bamboozle Yardy and Broad while Swann was caught trying to hit out of trouble.

England were dismissed for just 171 in 45.4 overs. It was spin, not the customary seam-attack, which did the damage for South Africa. Robin Peterson (3 for 22 in 8 overs) shook the top order, while Imran Tahir (4 for 38 in 8.4 overs) mopped the tail.

England needed to get on top of South Africa by getting early wickets but Smith and Hashim Amla kept England at bay for 14 overs and 63 runs. England too started with spin of Michael Yardy but he could not get early breakthrough which his team dearly needed. Amla had no trouble negotiating the spin and seam alike but Smith faced problems against Graeme Swann who troubled him constantly. He scratched his way to 22 off 41 balls till Graeme Swann had him caught at the wicket with a vicious turner.

Stuart Broad then removed Amla (42 off 51 balls, 2 fours) and Jacques Kallis in quick succession to give hope to his team. They needed to run through South Africa but unlike South Africa, they had only one quality spinner in Swann.

The man in form for the Proteas, AB de Villiers, in company with Faf du Plessis, took the score to 124 in 32 overs. South Africa requiring just 48 runs at 2.66 lost three quick wickets at the score of 124. This short but captivating passage of play turned a docile encounter into an epic one. Woefully out of form Anderson clean bowled de Villiers as the batsman misjudged and left alone an in-coming delivery. Faf du Plessis then heedlessly ran himself out before Anderson came back to shatter Duminy’s stumps with a reverse swinging ball that moved in further after pitching.

England had their tail up as they required four more wickets to keep their world cup campaign alive. After Peterson was reprieved by Prior on a stumping chance off Pietersen, Yardy had him caught behind to make it 127 for 7. Morne van Wyk and Dale Steyn then put up a rearguard action. Despite some anxious moments, they kept the hopes alive and took the score to 160.

With 12 needed from 22 balls, van Wyk dragged a Bresnan delivery onto his stumps to change the scenario again. Steyn, the man chipping away at the target, was next to go, removed by Broad’s reverse swinging in-dipper. South Africa’s last pair needed 8 runs but Morne Morkel nicked behind to hand England a stunning victory. Broad was the chief destroyer with 4 wickets but man of the match award went to Ravi Bopara for his solid batting.

England, after three close games, have won another by 6 runs. South Africa, who looked by far the form team, have choked again but thankfully it is not a knock-out game. The momentum for South Africa has been broken and they need to recharge themselves again before the all important clash against India. England, on the other hand, head to Chittagong relieved and with a positive frame of mind.

Match Result: England 171/10 in 45.4 overs (Bopara 60, Trott 52; Imran Tahir 4/38, Peterson 3/22) beat South Africa 165/10 47.4 overs (Amla 42; Broad 4/15, Anderson 2/16) by 6 runs

Man of the Match: Ravi Bopara