Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan scored backs-to-the-wall centuries but it was Jofra Archer’s stunning return of six for 40 which led England to a consolation victory by 59 runs in the final match of their ODI series at the Diamond Oval on Wednesday night.
Having made an unlikely 346 for seven thanks to a record stand of 232 between the England captain and Malan the hosts refused to be cowed, despite Archer’s brilliance, but they were once again left contemplating the possibility that they could miss out on automatic qualification for the World Cup in October despite winning the series 2-1.
Lungi Ngidi claimed a wicket in each of his first three overs as England crashed to 14 for three when Jason Roy (1) drove to mid-off, Ben Duckett (0) wafted to the keeper and Harry Brook (6) inside-edged behind to Heinrich Klaasen.
Malan paid scant attention to runs for a full 10 overs, aware that another wicket inside the first 15 overs would make a difficult recovery close to impossible. Buttler placed his pushes well and waited only for the rare poor deliveries to unleash any power.
At the 40-over mark the score was an astonishing 239 for three and, not only had the partnership been chanceless, it had also never been chancy. They hit 15 sixes between them, clearing the ropes with rows of seats to spare every time, the captain mostly straight driving the spinners while Malan pulled the seamers with precision.
By the time Malan finally top-edged a slog-sweep off seamer Sisanda Magala to depart for 118 from 114 balls (at one stage he had 23 from 50 balls) the partnership had mushroomed to 232, the fourth highest for any wicket in ODIs for England. It was a remarkable feat of pacing, especially for Buttler who has spoken of his difficulty in regaining the rhythm of 50-over cricket after so much T20.
Moeen Ali (41 from 23 balls) blasted another four sixes in an amusingly wild cameo which included an attempt at a one-handed reverse pull-sweep resembling a right-handed tennis player’s cross-court forehand. He missed but it was good enough to reduce Buttler and even, momentarily, Klaasen to a fit of giggles.
Semi-ridiculously England could, and would, have scored even more had Buttler, Moeen and Sam Curran not all been dismissed in the final five overs, Buttler holing out to long on for 131 from 127 balls, the most he has ever faced in an ODI and his longest innings for more than a year.
The hosts were once again looking threatening, as they did in a record chase in Bloemfontein, and Buttler recalled Archer at 158 for three. England weren’t “desperate” for a wicket, but one would have been extremely useful. Archer delivered two in two overs to decisively swing the game England’s way.
Aiden Markram (39) was entangled by a slower bouncer which he toe-ended into the covers and the dangerous David Miller (13) was beaten for pace from around the wicket, inside-edging to Buttler. It would have made both Buttler and Archer’s night had Marco Jansen edged his first ball into Moeen’s hands at slip, having just placed him there, but it fell inches short.
But still South Africa were not finished, fighting back yet again through Klaasen and Wayne Parnell, behaving every bit like a team with World Cup qualification at stake. Klaasen monstered sixes off Adil Rashid and Moeen, on both sides of the wicket, and Parnell joined in the fun with a straight drive in Moeen’s ninth over which cost 17.
Suddenly 73 were required from the final 11 overs and the Proteas were refilled with belief. It was Archer time. Of course it was. His fourth ball rose steeply, Klaasen hooked and Ben Duckett held a fine, low catch diving forward at deep square leg.
When Parnell was bowled by Archer for a plucky 34 from 29 balls the game was up – Archer had five – and then six – wickets after his one for 81 in the first game, England had won, a losing streak of five games was ended and normal service was resumed.
