Summary

  • South Africa chase 343 to take unassailable 2-0 lead in three-match series

  • Their third-highest chase in ODI history

  • Temba Bavuma makes 109, with David Miller unbeaten on 58

  • Buttler makes 94 not out in England's 342-7

  • Harry Brook (80) hits maiden ODI half-century, while Moeen (51) hits first ODI fifty since 2017

  1. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 29 January 2023

    It was a tough start for England. The ball was moving all around the place and they lost both openers quite early.

    The ever impressive Harry Brook was at the forefront of England's revival. He played some eye-catching shots before eventually falling for a well made 80. Things were a bit topsy-turvy thereafter with some quite periods and some big overs scattered throughout.

    A 101-run stand between Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler ensured England stayed on track and a strong finishing effort from Curran sees England post what's most certainly an above-par total.

  2. South Africa need 343 runs to winpublished at 50 overs

    Eng 342-7 (Buttler 94*, Rashid 0*)

    There we have it. All things considered, this is an excellent total for England. A bye, four and three to finish for England.

    Buttler doesn't make it to his century but he's led England from the front today with an unbeaten 94.

  3. Eng 334-7published at 49.3 overs

    More freebies! Nortje bangs it in short, it sails over Rashid's head and poor Klaasen couldn't get to that despite his best efforts. Five wides.

  4. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 49.3 overs

    Curran c Klaasen b Nortje 28 (Eng 329-7)

    Edged and taken, excellent catch from Klaasen.

    Nortje went for the wide yorker and Curran was backing away, he reached out and hung his bat out but only found a thick bottom edge. Klaasen did really well to go down to his left quickly and grab it one-handed.

  5. Eng 329-6published at 49.1 over

    Hundred unlikely now, Buttler is off strike...

  6. 6 runs

    Eng 328-6published at 49 overs

    Buttler 87, Curran 28

    A lucky boundary to finish the over for England. Ngidi goes short again and Curran takes it on. It gets big on him and goes towards deep mid-wicket where it evades Maharaj's fingertips despite him diving to his right.

    16 runs off the over. Fancy a hundred for Buttler in the final over anybody?

  7. 6 runs

    Eng 317-6published at 48.1 overs

    Welcome back Ngidi, Curran has missed your bowling.

    Length on middle and Curran heaves it over the wide long-on boundary for another maximum.

  8. Eng 311-6published at 48 overs

    Given the circumstances, that's an excellent over from Jansen. He keeps it down to singles and twos and it yields England just seven runs.

  9. 6 runs

    Eng 305-6published at 47 overs

    Buttler 78, Curran 16

    England's Sam Curran hits a second consecutive six from a ball delivered by South Africa's Lungi Ngidi (not seen) during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and England at Mangaung OvalImage source, Getty Images

    Curran joins in on the fun! Two sixes in a row. Perhaps a bit predictable from Ngidi as he went for the slower delivery on every occasion.

    Curran did very well though, first he slapped a short-ish delivery over long-on with a flat bat before shovelling a full delivery straight back over the bowler's head.

  10. 6 runs

    Eng 292-6published at 46.2 overs

    Jos ButtlerImage source, Getty Images

    Boom, that should get England back on track. Juicy half-volley on middle stump and Buttler sends it sailing up, over and outside the ground. Someone will find it in the bushes tomorrow!

    He got a boundary off the previous delivery too, Ngidi went slow and wide but Buttler managed to reach out and scythe it away towards point. It kept spinning away from the fielder who couldn't get to it.

  11. Eng 281-6published at 46 overs

    Buttler 67, Curran 4

    South Africa's Marco Jansen fields a ball between England's Jos Buttler (L) and England's Sam Curran (R) during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and England at Mangaung Oval in BloemfonteinImage source, Getty Images

    A bit of frustration creeping through for Curran there. He failed to tick the strike over in the first three deliveries and only managed the single off the fourth delivery.

    Buttler only manages a single off the two deliveries he does get though. At least he retains the strike for the next over.

    England need runs and they need Buttler facing the majority of these remaining 24 deliveries.

  12. Eng 279-6published at 45 overs

    Buttler 66, Curran 3

    Right, now the stage is set for England to go big. Just three runs off that over and England will be hoping to go big in these last five.

    Buttler needs to get more of the strike though. He got to his fifty back in the 35th over and since, he's only had a chance to score 16 runs!

  13. How's stat!?published at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 29 January 2023

    You know what, Sam Curran's highest score in ODIs is 95 not out too. That came against India in 2021. That wasn't quite enough to get England over the line through.

  14. Eng 276-6published at 44 overs

    Buttler 65, Curran 1

    Sam Curran is the new man in.

    Woakes did get a boundary off the very first delivery of that over but South Africa will be the happier side at the end of it.

    Buttler has been starved of the strike for quite a bit now.

  15. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 43.5 overs

    Woakes c Klaasen b Jansen 14 (Eng 275-6)

    Gone, caught behind. Jansen switches to around the wicket, bangs it in and gets rewarded. Woakes was looking to make a lot of room and play a cross-batted slap over cover but it got big on him and he got a healthy edge through to Klaasen who took it high to his right.

  16. Eng 269-5published at 43 overs

    Buttler 65, Woakes 8

    Chris WoakesImage source, Getty Images

    Woakes is no mug with the bat, he's got five half-centuries in ODIs with a high-score of 95 not out. Oh, I remember that day, a glorious innings against Sri Lanka back in 2016 that helped England secure a tie in extraordinary circumstances.

    He doesn't quite need to replicate that kind of heroics today, just needs to stick around with Buttler. So far so good as he clips one off his pads for four too.

  17. Eng 262-5published at 42 overs

    Buttler 65, Woakes 1

    Over 42 sees England lose a wicket and score just one run. How about that for a response from Nortje after his previous over!

    A lot of responsibility now on the England captain's shoulders. He'll want to see them through to the end of the innings.

  18. Postpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 29 January 2023

    Just when things were looking so good for England too...

  19. How's stat?!published at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 29 January 2023

    Moeen Ali's half-century was his first in ODIs since the 102 he made against West Indies at Bristol in September 2017.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 41.1 overs

    Moeen b Nortje 51 (Eng 261-5)

    England's Moeen Ali is is bowled by a delivery from South Africa's Anrich Nortje (not seen) during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and England at Mangaung Oval in BloemfonteinImage source, Getty Images

    Castled! Moeen is on his way back. Nortje, from around the wicket, goes full and wide outside off. Moeen's eyes light up as he looks to crash it through cover but his feet don't move and he gets a thick inside-edge back onto his stumps.

    Much needed breakthrough for South Africa, they'll breathe a sigh of relief.