Summary

  • Series tied at 2-2 with one to play

  • Chris Morris' 62 turns match for SA

  • Rashid dropped Morris on 14

  • Root 109 and Hales 50 for England

  • England women lose 2nd ODI to SA

  1. Postpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

  2. Eng 62-1 (Hales 41, Root 12)published at 13 over

    Speaking of AB de Villiers, there's some chat about him moving about at mid-off as the bowler runs in (more than just 'walking in'). Is that allowed? Also this week we've heard that umpires might be allowed to 'send off' players in club cricket if they misbehave. A good idea? What Laws would you change if you had the chance? If a batsman plays and misses three times, I think he should have to bat the next three balls with his handle. A doggy life, we used to call it. 

  3. Postpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Neil Manthorp
    BBC Test Match Special

    "We've seen some very different conditions in the one-day matches, and Joe Root has shown the ability to adapt to conditions and get a move on."

  4. Eng 53-1 (Hales 36, Root 8)published at 12 overs

    David Wiese, by the way, is the new bowler. Stubble, floppy hair. Root, who would have actually just made it home even if De Villiers' throw had hit, decides enough is enough, dancing to belt Wiese aerially through mid-on for four. 

  5. Postpublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "De Villiers is the best mid-off in the world. He gets rid of the ball so quickly and he's got a good pair of hands too."

  6. Eng 48-1published at 11.1 overs

    Joe Root has to hurry here, taking on AB de Villiers with a short single to mid-off. No direct hit, but England's number three might have been in bother if there was.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Tweet #bbccricket

  8. dropped catch

    Close!published at 11 overs

    Eng 47-1

    Even the zinc plastered across Chris Morris's chops is pink. Ooohhh, that's a slice of luck for Alex Hales, who dangles the bat at a loose drive and is relieved to see the aerial ball fly wide of gully for four. Hales, perhaps getting slightly tied by the South African off-stump line, starts to shuffle around his crease, but the shackles are still on.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Tweet: #bbccricket

    Kieron Bird: How on earth did SA score 439/2 on this pitch last year!? Let's hope Joe Root makes it look easier than the openers have

  10. Latest scorecardpublished at 12:12

    England: 39-1 from 10 overs (SA won toss)

    Batsmen: Hales 28, Root 2

    Fall of wickets: 18-1 (Roy 6)

    Bowling figures: Abbott 4-0-21-0, Rabada 5-1-15-1, Morris 1-0-3-0

    Full scorecard

  11. Eng 39-1published at 10 overs

    And, the benefit of holding a line wide of off stump means the batsman could come a cropper when you eventually target the stumps. Rabada, a master of control so far, hunts Root's pads with the surprise straight one, almost creeping through. Finally, Rabada bowls a bad un, a long hop hooked for four by Hales. That might be the end of Rabada's spell. 

  12. Postpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "South Africa are aiming about three or four inches outside the off stump, bowling to a ring of fielders on the off side, and it's working quite well at the moment."

  13. Eng 32-1 (Hales 22, Root 2)published at 9 overs

    Alex Hales of EnglandImage source, Rex Features

    In the first match of this series, South Africa's bowling had all the accuracy of an unattended hosepipe. Now, they are transformed, a different team. Probing off stump and outside, bowling one side of the wicket. Chris Morris comes into the attack, fresh from a trip to the barbershop. He continues the good line, England given nothing on the pads. The Proteas are bowling very well in good batting conditions.

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Text 81111 (UK users)

    Why is there even doubt that Broad should play? Are we saying that Jordan, Woakes and Topley are better than the imperious match-winning Broad? I won't have it.

    Anthony Cocozza

  15. Eng 29-1published at 8 overs

    Rabada continues his excellent work, with even his bad ball - a wide half-volley - being struck straight at the cover fielder. In the crowd, some fellas (at least, I think they are fellas) cavort in pink Morphsuits. How do you go about your daily business in a Morphsuit? Where do you keep your wallet? How do you eat and drink? And what about going to the toilet? 

  16. England women updatepublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    We have live radio commentary of the match for UK users via this link here.

  17. Eng 28-1 (Hales 21 from 23 balls)published at 7 overs

    Alex Hales isn't shrinking despite losing his opening buddy. He whips Abbott's first ball from outside off stump through mid-wicket for four like a man that has been watching old footage of Viv Richards on YouTube. I was once told that if Viv was not out at lunch or tea, he'd often sleep through the interval. Abbott goes to sleep for the final ball of this over, serving a long hop that Hales belts to square leg for four more.

  18. Postpublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Simon Hughes
    BBC Test Match Special

    "What a great over from Rabada. He's not only got the pace, he's so smart as well."

  19. Eng 18-1 (Rabada 3-1-7-1)published at 6 overs

    The set-up from Rabada was excellent. Full outswing, full outswing, then the vicious bumper which touched 90mph. It was on to Roy before he knew it and the short boundary/altitude combo couldn't save him. Joe Root, complete with pink gloves, bat handle and stickers, is the new man. 

  20. Postpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2016

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    South AfricaImage source, Rex Features

    "Roy got that in the splice. It was a good bouncer from Rabada because he got it high and therefore it's harder to control. You need either enormous power or exquisite timing. That's a giveaway wicket - it was just an instinctive hit at the ball, not thinking through the shot."