What is it about new captains? Beginner’s Luck or the Midas Touch? England’s self-inflicted collapse could well be along the lines of the former, but Quinton de Kock’s fiery hundred was a product of sheer character that saw South Africa ace the 259-run chase. The clinical win was a much-needed one, given the unforeseen troughs that South African cricket has seen in the recent past, that has even led to the appointment of a new management. After a deflating failure in the Tests, the victory at Cape Town was a whiff of pure air for South Africa and a troubling course for England in ODIs at Newlands.
After being set a target of 259, South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks early, when Woakes got one to kick off length and take the top-edge of the batsman through to the wicketkeeper. It could very well have been another South African batting implosion – only, it wasn’t. Bavuma and de Kock settled in for tea and supper, milking the bowling throughout and maintaining a healthy run-rate – 173 runs in 169 balls – before de Kock was knocked over trying to hoick a Joe Root pie into the Cape of Good Hope.
Before his dismissal, however, de Kock had all but gotten the Proteas over the line, scoring a hundred on captaincy debut with Temba Bavuma playing a capable second fiddle at almost a run-a-ball. de Kock also went past the 5000-run mark during this innings. Bavuma followed de Kock to the dressing room soon after, falling two runs short of what would have been a well-deserved hundred, trapped in front by a scooter from Chris Jordan. Rassie van der Dussen and debutant JJ Smuts were left only with the crumbs, and they collected them with ease to push South Africa over the line, handing them a rustle of aid in the sort of a clinical victory.
Earlier on, after South Africa elected to bowl first after winning the toss, England got off to a quick start, with a fifty-run stand between Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. However, a collapse of six wickets for 80 runs ensued, thanks chiefly to some excellent bowling by Shamsi, some excellent fielding by the Proteas, and the jittery Englishmen – especially Joe Root, who was run-out courtesy a fabulous throw by van der Dussen. It was then that Chris Woakes and Joe Denly led a rescue effort to lift England to a respectable 258-8; not the easiest target to chase at Newlands, historically, but Bavuma and de Kock had other ideas.
With this triumph, South Africa’s win-drought comes to an end, winning their first international fixture since the first Test back in December.
Brief Scores: England 258/8 in 50 overs (Joe Denly 87, Chris Woakes 40; Tabraiz Shamsi 3-38) lost to South Africa 259/3 in 47.4 overs (Quinton de Kock 107, Temba Bavuma 98; Chris Jordan 1-31) by 7 wickets
