England defeat South Africa by 6 runs in World Cup thriller
It was one of the most exciting matches of the ICC World Cup, and once again it featured England. The Poms’ World Cup campaign has seen some riveting matches so far; they suffered a shock defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 was played
out till the last ball and ended in a draw. England desperately needed a win, but found stiff challenge by the South African team which has far sailed through the tournament.
England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat first. South African captain Graeme Smith caught the English openers by surprise as he opened the bowling with left arm spinner Robin Petersen. Strauss tried to go after the bowling but edged
one to AB De Villiers for nought. Kevin Pietersen suffered the same fate and on the final ball of first over was out for 1 caught by Jacques Kallis.
Ian Bell was Peterson’s third victim as he fell after adding just five runs on the board in the fourth over.
With England reeling, Ravi Bopara and Jonathan Trott put a good stand for the 4th wicket. The two right handers tried to make sure that they did not lose any more wickets and played out the new ball. The two added 99 runs together before Trott
was dismissed for 52 runs from 94 balls with 3 fours in the 29th over.
Matt Prior was the next man in, but his poor run with the bat continued and he was dismissed for just 10 runs. England were 134 for the loss of five wickets.
England’s lower order did not make much of a contribution. None of Michael Yardy, Tim Bresnan Stuart Broad and James Anderon managed to get double figures. England were all out for a disappointing total of 171. Peterson shone for South Africa with three
early wickets, while leg-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir continued his good run and picked up 4 wickets.
The start for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 was quite solid: Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith put on 63 runs for the first wicket. It took a beautiful delivery from Swann to get rid of Smith for 22 runs.
Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis were dismissed in quick succession. Amla was also dismissed for 42 runs in the 17th over, while Kallis was caught behind off Stuart Broad for just 15 runs in the 19th over.
South Africa was still looking comfortable at 82/3. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 and Faf du Plassis got South Africa to 124, before England bounced back. Du Plassis fell in the 32nd over,
Next two men in: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JP-Duminy-c1742 and Robin Petersen fell for nought and 3, and all of a sudden England were in charge of the game.
Dale Steyn and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn was out LBW to Stuart Broad. The pendulum swung once again
and Stuart Broad got http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722 caught behind in the 47th over. South Africa were all out for 165, falling short by a mere 6 runs.
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