25 Jul RAIN HAS FINAL SAY AS PROTEAS SHARE ODI SERIES WITH ENGLAND
LEEDS: The Proteas saw their hopes of beating England in their One-Day International (ODI) series dashed by the weather after the third and decisive match had to be abandoned due to rain at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Sunday.
Only 27.4 overs were possible, although that was sufficient time for South Africa to impress through a dashing unbeaten 92 off 76 balls by Quinton de Kock, who struck 13 fours along the way, helping his side reach 159 for two.
But the forecasted heavy rain then arrived leaving the officials with no choice but to call off the match. The tourists had won the first match convincingly, before the hosts hit back with an impressive win of their own in a rain-shortened game two on Friday.
It means the three-game sequence ended level at 1-1. A three-match T20 International series is next on the cards and that begins on Wednesday.
Sunday’s decider had initially started on time, as the Proteas won the toss and batted.
Janneman Malan fell early on for 11, before De Kock and Player of the Series Rassie van der Dussen (26) put on 75 for the second wicket taking the total to 99 for two.
The game was then held up by a heavy shower in the 21st over, and after it resumed, Aiden Markram (24 not out) kept up the tempo alongside De Kock.
The pair put on an unbroken 60 for the next wicket, before the skies opened again, prompting the match to be abandoned.
Speaking afterwards, Proteas stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj said: “I think there’s a lot to take out of the series. If you look at the first ODI, it was probably our most clinical performance in the past 18 months.
“I think if we can just replicate the mindset towards how we approach the games, the adaptation of the wickets was the most crucial thing. If we keep building on the things that we’ve done, then we’ll be okay.
“It was really encouraging in this game to see how Quinny played. It’s great to see a senior play step up in a big game and it’s a pity he didn’t get to continue so we could have seen the outcome of his innings. I think it would have been a spectacular end to what has been a thrilling and wonderful series so far.”
Proteas ODI squad against England
Keshav Maharaj (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Janneman Malan (GbetsRocks), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dwaine Pretorius (North West Dragons), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kyle Verreynne (Six Gun Grill Western Province).
South Africa ODI Tour to England Itinerary
Warm-up matches
Tuesday, 12 July
England Lions beat South Africa by 6 wickets – Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Thursday, 14 July
England Lions lost to South Africa by 107 runs – New Road, Worcester
ODIs
Tuesday, 19 July
England lost to South Africa by 62 runs – The Riverside, Durham
Friday, 22 July
England beat South Africa by 118 runs – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Sunday, 24 July
No Result (Rain) – England vs South Africa – Headingley Stadium, Leeds
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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