<p><strong>England v South Africa – 2nd ODI – Live Score and Match Update – South Africa at 73/0 by end of 15th over</strong></p>
<p>South African openers Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla got their team off to a solid start with a steady, as yet unbeaten opening stand against England during their second ODI, currently being played at the The Rose Bowl in Southampton on August 28.</p>
<p>With the Test series having resulted in the Proteas snatching the top Test team status from the Poms, the limited-overs series afford the visitors another chance to upset their hosts, and claim the top ODI team ranking for themselves.</p>
<p>The first ODI, scheduled to have been played at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, ended with no result owing to rain, but the second match managed to get underway as South Africa won the toss and skipper AB de Villiers elected to bat first. England skipper
Alastair Cook, commenting on the dryness of the pitch, claimed he would have made a similar decision.</p>
<p>The Proteas went into the match with an unchanged line-up – de Villiers claimed he expected the pitch to offer some spin later on, with spin having played a prominent role in the current English domestic season.</p>
<p>England, on the other hand, made one change in their line-up, bringing in Samit Patel in place of Chris Woakes, who will be denied an opportunity to perform on the international stage this year, yet again. Cook clarified that they had initially meant to
stick with Woakes, but went with Patel in light of the pitch conditions, in order to have another spin option.</p>
<p>South Africa opened their innings with the formidable duo of Graeme Smith (44*) and Hashim Amla (29*), and the two got their side off to a strong start. Smith managed five fours, while Amla struck 4, with the English bowlers unable to break up the pair.
The 9<sup>th</sup> over bowled by Bresnan proved particularly expensive, as the burly pacer was hit for 14 runs, including 3 boundaries.</p>
<p>By the end of the 15<sup>th</sup> over, South Africa have managed to work their way up to a total of 73, with both openers still going strong at the crease, and Smith well on his way to a half-century. South Africa will be banking on the opening duo to take
them further, while England look to defend their ranking and break up the pair before they grow into a bigger threat.</p>
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