England emerged victorious by a margin of 104 runs against South Africa in the opening clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at The Oval. South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to field. The hosts posted a total of 311 runs on the back of half-centuries by Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes.
The Proteas failed to make their presence felt after being handed a target of 312 runs, barring fighting half-centuries by opener Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen. Pace-bowler Jofra Archer was the leading wicket-taker with three wickets while Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes accounted for two wickets apiece.
Here are the highlights:
# England win by 104 runs!
# Wicket! Tahir dismissed for a duck as he edges the ball to Joe Root at first slip off his first delivery. South Africa 207/10 (39.5 overs)
# Imran Tahir is the new man in!
# Wicket! Kagiso Rabada dismissed for 11 runs off 19 deliveries following a short ball by Ben Stokes which he mistimes to Liam Plunkett at deep mid-wicket, with the Proteas nine wickets down. South Africa 207/9 (39.4 overs)
# Ben Stokes to bowl the 39th over!
# South Africa 199/8 (38 overs), with 6 runs conceded and a wicket for England.
# Lungi Ngidi is the new man in!
# Wicket! Hashim Amla dismissed for 13 runs off 23 deliveries as he attempts to pull the ball following a short delivery by Plunkett, with Buttler completing the catch. South Africa 193/8 (38.1 overs)
# Liam Plunkett to bowl his seventh over!
# South Africa 193/7 (38 overs) with seven runs from the over, as Kagiso Rabada hits the first boundary of the innings at mid-wicket.
# Ben Stokes to bowl his second over!
# Three runs from the over, with Hashim Amla and Kagiso Rabada completing three singles. South Africa 186/7 (37 overs)
# Liam Plunkett to bowl his seventh over!
# Just a single off the over, as South Africa finish on 183/7 (36 overs)
# Ben Stokes into the attack!
# Two runs and a wicket from the over, South Africa 182/7 (35 overs)
# Kagiso Rabada is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! Andile Phehlukwayo dismissed for 24 runs off 25 deliveries as he attempts to go for a big hit off a fast, turning delivery by Rashid with Ben Stokes completing a fine catch. South Africa 180/7 (34.1 overs)
# Adil Rashid to bowl his seventh over!
# Seven runs from the over following a boundary off the fourth delivery of the over by Andile Phehlukwayo down the leg-side. South Africa 180/6 (34 overs)
# Jofra Archer to continue with the ball!
# Six runs from the over, as Andile Phehlukwayo hits the first delivery of the over for a boundary wide of deep mid-wicket following a slog sweep. South Africa 173/6 (33 overs)
# Adil Rashid to bowl his seventh over!
# Wicket maiden for Jofra Archer, South Africa 167/6 (32 overs)
# Hashim Amla returns to the crease!
# Wicket! Rassie van der Dussen dismissed for 50 runs off 61 deliveries in an innings comprising of four boundaries and a six as he attempts to go for a big hit off short, fast delivery which the batsman fails to pull effectively, with Moeen Ali completing the catch. South Africa 167/6 (31.5 overs)
# Jofra Archer to bowl his sixth over of the innings!
# Just two runs off the over as Rassie van der Dussen completes his half-century off 56 deliveries following a single off the fourth delivery through the covers. South Africa 167/5 (31 overs)
# Adil Rashid to bowl his sixth over!
# 10 runs from the over as Van der Dussen and Phehlukwayo score a boundary apiece over mid-on and through extra cover. South Africa 166/5 (30 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his final over of the bowling spell!
# Six runs from the over as Phehlukwayo scores the first boundary of his innings with a boundary between mid-off and extra cover having picked the googly early on. South Africa 156/5 (29 overs)
# Adil Rashid to bowl his fifth over!
# Four runs from the over as Andile Phehlukwayo and Rassie van der Dussen complete a double off the first delivery followed by singles off the final two deliveries. South Africa 150/5 (28 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his ninth over!
# Four runs and a wicket from the over, South Africa 146/5 (27 overs)
# Andile Phehlukwayo is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! Dwaine Pretorius dismissed for 1 off a single delivery following a run-out as he and Rassie Van der Dussen attempt a quick single with Ben Stokes completing a quick throw. South Africa 144/5 (26.2 overs)
# Liam Plunkett to bowl his fifth over!
# Five runs and a wicket from the over, South Africa 142/4 (26 overs)
# Dwaine Pretorius is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! JP Duminy dismissed for 8 runs off 11 deliveries as he attempts to go for another big hit following a boundary off the second delivery, with Ben Stokes completing the catch. South Africa 142/4 (25.5 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his eighth over!
# Two runs from the over, as South Africa reach 137/3 (25 overs)
# Liam Plunkett continues to bowl after accounting for the dismissal of key batsman Quinton de Kock!
# Six runs from the over, as JP Duminy and Rassie van der Dussen complete six singles off the six deliveries. South Africa 135/3 (24 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his seventh over!
# Four runs and a wicket from the over, South Africa 129/3 (23 overs)
# JP Duminy is the new man in!
# Wicket! Quinton de Kock dismissed for 68 runs off 74 deliveries as he attempts to smash a short of length delivery by Plunkett, resulting in a leading edge to Joe Root. South Africa 129/3 (22.6 overs)
# Liam Plunkett to bowl his third over!
# 16 runs from the over as Rassie van der Dussen scores runs at an aggressive rate against Ali with a six off the first delivery straight down the ground followed by boundaries to the third man fence and an edge to slip. South Africa 125/2 (22 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his sixth over of the innings!
# 12 runs off the over as Quinton De Kock smashes a boundary and a six respectively off the first and fifth delivery of the innings to the deep backward square leg fence and over extra cover. South Africa 109/2 (21 overs)
# Liam Plunkett to bowl his second over!
# Two runs off the over as Rassie van der Dussen was nearly dismissed off the final delivery of the over following a leading edge which did not carry to Moeen Ali. South Africa 97/2 (20 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his fifth over!
# Plunkett concedes six runs off his opening over of the innings with Quinton de Kock and Van der Dussen completing a double and four singles. South Africa 95/2 (19 overs)
# Pace bowler Liam Plunkett into the attack!
# Quinton De Kock completes his half-century off 58 deliveries with three runs scored off Moeen Ali's fourth over of the innings. South Africa 89/2 (18 overs)
# South Africa need 226 runs from 33 overs!
# Quinton de Kock finishes the over bowled by Adil Rashid just one short of his half-century, in an over which added seven runs to the South African innings. The opener hit the opening delivery of the over for a boundary past short fine leg, followed by two runs from the remaining five deliveries. South Africa 86/2 (17 overs)
# Economical over by Moeen Ali as he concedes just six runs off the over despite a boundary off the second delivery by Rassie van der Dussen following a reverse sweep which is hit through backward point. South Africa 79/2 (16 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his third over!
# Just three runs off the over as De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen complete a double off the first delivery followed by a single off the second delivery to backward square leg. South Africa 74/2 (15 overs)
# Adil Rashid to continue with the ball!
# Five runs off the over following a boundary off the final delivery as wicketkeeper Jos Buttler failed to hold on to the ball resulting in byes being accumulated. South Africa 71/2 (14 overs)
# Moeen Ali to bowl his second over!
# Four runs off Rashid's second over as Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen complete four singles without any risky gameplay. South Africa 66/2 (13 overs)
# Adil Rashid to bowl his second over!
# 11 runs off the over following a six off the last delivery by Quinton de Kock who hits the ball over wide long-on following a quiet over early on. South Africa 62/2 (12 overs)
# Moeen Ali is the new bowler into the attack!
# Seven runs off the over as Quinton de Kock looks to attack despite the dismissal of skipper Faf du Plessis with attempted sweep shots resulting in a boundary off an edge. South Africa 51/2 (11 overs)
# Spinner Adil Rashid into the attack!
# A single and a wicket off the over, South Africa 44/2 (10 overs)
# Rassie van der Dussen is the next man on the crease!
# Wicket! South African skipper Faf du Plessis has been dismissed for 5 runs off 7 deliveries as he attempts a pull shot off a short delivery by Archer which Moeen Ali completes effectively. South Africa 44/2 (9.3 overs)
# Jofra Archer to bowl his fifth over!
# Three runs off the over as Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis complete three singles. South Africa 43/1 (9 overs)
# Chris Woakes to bowl his fifth over!
# Nine runs off the over as Faf du Plessis gets off the mark with a boundary off his first delivery. South Africa 40/1 (8 overs)
# Faf du Plessis is the new man in!
# Wicket! Aiden Markram dismissed for 11 runs off 12 deliveries following a boundary off the previous delivery as he edges a back of length delivery to England skipper Joe Root at slips. South Africa 36/1 (7.4 overs)
# Jofra Archer to bowl his fourth over as well!
# Five runs from the over as Aiden Markram directs the ball to the boundary ropes for his first boundary of the innings following a cover drive. South Africa 31/0 (7 overs)
# Chris Woakes to bowl his fourth over of the bowling spell!
# Four runs off the over as Markram gets off the mark following a double to the left of mid-off with Quinton de Kock nearly lofting the ball straight into the hands of the fielder. South Africa 26/0 (6 overs)
# Jofra Archer to continue with the ball!
# Quinton de Kock hits two boundaries off Chris Woakes's third over of his bowling spell directing the ball wide of backward point and towards sweeper cover. South Africa 22/0 (5 overs)
# Chris Woakes to bowl his third over of the innings!
# 4 runs off Archer's second over of the innings as Hashim Amla scores his first boundary of the innings off a short of length delivery which he directs down fine past second slip. Hashim Amla has opted to walk off the field following a bouncer by Archer which hit him on the head causing discomfort. Aiden Markram to replace him on the crease. South Africa 14/0 (4 overs)
# Jofra Archer to bowl his second over of the innings!
# Six runs off the over as Quinton de Kock scores the first boundary of the South African innings following an edge off a slower delivery which narrowly beats Jos Buttler. South Africa 10/0 (3 overs)
# Chris Woakes to continue with the ball and bowl his second over of the innings!
# Archer concedes two runs from his opening over as Hashim Amla gets off the mark with a single followed by a single from De Kock off the final delivery. South Africa 4/0 (2 overs)
# Jofra Archer to bowl his first over for England in World Cup history!
# Two runs from the opening over as Quinton de Kock gets off the mark with a double with Hashim Amla yet to face his first ball of the innings. South Africa 2/0 (1 over)
# Chris Woakes to bowl the opening over!
# South African openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock are set to kick off the chase of 312!
# South Africa need 312 runs to win at a run rate of 6.24 runs per over!
# 11 runs from the final over as England finish on 311/8 (50 overs)
# Kagiso Rabada to bowl the final over of the innings!
# 6 runs and a wicket from the over, England 300/8 (49 overs)
# Jofra Archer is the new man in!
# Wicket! Ben Stokes dismissed for 89 runs off 79 deliveries as he attempts to smash the ball in a cross batted shot with Hashim Amla completing the catch. England 300/8 (48.6 overs)
# Lungi Ngidi to bowl his final over of the innings!
# 10 runs from the over as Plunkett and Stokes smash a boundary apiece to help England finish on 294/7 (48 overs)
# Liam Plunkett is the new man in!
# Wicket! Chris Woakes departs for 13 runs off 13 deliveries following a short delivery by Rabada which he attempts to hit into the stands, handing a second catch of the innings to Faf du Plessis. England 285/7 (47.3 overs)
# Kagiso Rabada to bowl his ninth over!
# England 284/6 (47 overs) with nine runs from Phehlukwayo's eighth over of the innings comprising of two wides, two singles and a double.
# Andile Phehlukwayo to bowl his eighth over!
# 10 runs from the over as Woakes smashes his first boundary of the innings over backward point. Five singles from the over as well with England finishing the over on 275/6 (46 overs)
# Kagiso Rabada to bowl his eighth over!
# Five runs from the over as Woakes and Stokes complete three singles and a double from the over. England 265/6 (45 overs)
# Andile Phehlukwayo to bowl his seventh over!
# 3 runs and a wicket from the over, England 260/6 (44 overs)
# Chris Woakes is the new man in!
# Wicket! Moeen Ali departs for 3 runs off 9 deliveries as he attempts to go for a big hit off a slow length delivery with Faf du Plessis completing the catch. England 260/6 (43.6 overs)
# Lungi Ngidi to bowl the 44th over!
# Seven runs from the over as Imran Tahir finishes his bowling spell with 61 runs conceded while picking two wickets. Stokes finishes the over on 70 runs off 64 deliveries as he inches closer to a century. England 257/5 (43 overs)
# Imran Tahir to bowl his final over of the innings!
# Four runs and a wicket from the over, England 250/5 (42 overs)
# Moeen Ali is the new man in!
# Wicket! Buttler dismissed for 18 runs off 16 deliveries as he cuts a slow, back of length delivery by Ngidi onto the stumps. England 247/5 (41.2 overs)
# Lungi Ngidi into the attack!
# Stokes finishes the over on 62 runs off 58 deliveries as Tahir concedes 11 runs off his ninth over. Stokes cut the ball easily behind backward of point with the duo completing three singles and two doubles off the over. England 246/4 (41 overs)
# Imran Tahir to bowl his ninth over!
# Eight runs from the attack as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler complete two doubles and four singles off the over. England 235/4 (40 overs)
# Lungi Ngidi is back in the attack and set to bowl his seventh over!
# England 227/4 (39 overs) as Tahir who has bowled 8 overs conceding 43 runs and picking two wickets so far, concedes five runs from his over following three singles and a double.
# England 222/4 (38 overs), as Kagiso Rabada, makes a comeback in the attack. Five runs from Rabada's seventh over following five singles completed by Buttler and Stokes.
# England 217/4 (37 overs) with four runs and a wicket off the over.
# Jos Buttler is the new man in!
# Wicket! Eoin Morgan dismissed for 57 runs off 60 deliveries as he hits the ball straight down the ground following a turning delivery by Tahir, with Aiden Markram completing the catch effectively. England 217/4 (36.5 overs)
# Imran Tahir to bowl his seventh over!
# England 213/3 (36 overs) as Ben Stokes completes his half-century off 45 deliveries following three boundaries off the 36th over bowled by Dwaine Pretorius.
# England 200/3 (35 overs) as Pretorious concedes 20 runs from a six-over spell so far. Stokes smashed his third boundary of the innings through the covers following a thick outside edge.
# England 192/3 (34 overs) with Dwaine Pretorius conceding five singles off the final over before the lunch break.
# England 187/3 (33 overs) with five runs from the over bowled by Andile Phehlukwayo. Eoin Morgan completes his half-century off 53 deliveries following a boundary off the fourth delivery which he hits between fine leg and deep square leg.
# England 182/3 (32 overs), as Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes smash a six and a boundary respectively off Aiden Markram's third over to add 11 runs to the England total.
# England 171/3 (31 overs) as Andile Phelukwayo makes a comeback in the attack following his dismissal of Jason Roy. Just 1 run conceded off the over following a wide.
# England 170/3 (30 overs) as Markram makes it difficult for the English batsmen to score with accuracy in line and length. 3 runs from the over.
# Seven runs from Imran Tahir's sixth over as Stokes smashes his first boundary of his innings powerfully past cover off the fourth delivery. England 167/3 (29 overs)
# Imran Tahir to bowl his sixth over of the innings!
# England 160/3 (28 overs), with 2 runs from Markram's opening over as Morgan and Stokes complete two singles from the over. England are currently batting at a run rate of 5.71.
# Aiden Markram into the attack!
# England 158/3 (27 overs) with 10 runs from the over following a boundary by Eoin Morgan off the fifth delivery past short fine leg.
# England 148/3 (26 overs) with 13 runs off the over as Morgan smashes two consecutive sixes off the over. Morgan has further completed 7000 runs in ODI cricket in his 200th ODI.
# Lungi Ngidi to bowl his sixth over of the innings!
# Four runs from the over as Stokes and Morgan complete three singles and a double off the over. England 135/3 (25 overs)
# JP Duminy into the attack!
# England 131/3 (24 overs) with Lungi Ngidi back into the attack for the Proteas. Morgan hits the first boundary of his innings off the second delivery, hitting the ball straight down the ground. 5 runs from the over.
# England 125/3 (23 overs), with six runs from Imran Tahir's fifth over. Stokes and Morgan complete four singles and a double with both batsmen unbeaten on nine at the end of the over.
# England 120/3 (22 overs) with Rabada continuing with the ball, bowling his sixth over of the innings. 5 runs from the over with four singles completed by Stokes and Morgan following a wide from the first delivery.
# England 115/3 (21 overs) as Tahir concedes just three runs off his fourth over of the innings as Stokes and Morgan complete three singles.
# Imran Tahir is back in the attack!
# Rabada picks his first wicket of the game off his fifth over with just a single conceded. England 112/3 (20 overs)
# Ben Stokes is the batsman at No 5 for England!
# Wicket! Joe Root departs for 51 runs off 59 deliveries as he cuts the good length delivery to JP Duminy at backward point resulting in England losing two quick wickets. England 111/3 (19.1 overs)
# Kagiso Rabada to bowl his fourth over!
# Boundary off the final delivery by Eoin Morgan with nine runs and a wicket off the over. England 111/2 (19 overs)
# Eoin Morgan is the new man in!
# Wicket! Jason Roy dismissed for 54 runs off 53 deliveries following a boundary off the previous delivery straight down the ground. England lose their second wicket as Roy hits the back of the length, cross-seam delivery into the air with Faf du Plessis completing the catch. England 107/2 (18.4 overs)
# Andile Phehlukwayo continues with the ball bowling his third over of the innings.
# Dwaine Pretorius concedes just two runs off his fifth over as Joe Root and Jason Roy complete their respective half-centuries. Root completed his half-century off 56 deliveries with Roy achieving the same milestone off 51 deliveries. England 102/1 (18 overs)
# Phehlukwayo continues with the ball conceding four singles off his second over of the innings. Jason Roy completes the over with 49 runs off 48 deliveries with Root one-short of a half-century as well. England 100/1 (17 overs)
# England 93/1 (16 overs), with nine runs off Dwaine Pretorius's fourth over. Roy finishes the over on 48 runs off 46 deliveries, lifting a slower delivery over mid-off for a boundary off the second delivery.
# England 86/1 (15 overs) as right-arm fast bowler Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack. Four runs off Phehlukwayo's opening over with both the batsmen finishing the over unbeaten on 43.
# England 83/1 (14 overs), with four runs off Dwaine Pretorius's third over of the innings comprising of four singles. Jason Roy and Joe Root are now into their 40's.
# England 79/1 (13 overs) with seven runs added to the English total. Roy smashes his sixth boundary of the innings to deep mid-wicket off the final delivery of the over, finishing the over on 39 runs off 37 deliveries.
# England 72/1 (12 overs), with four runs from Dwaine Pretorius's second over of the innings. Jason Roy and Joe Root are now close to their respective half-centuries following the early dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.
# England 68/1 (11 overs) with eight runs off Kagiso Rabada's third over. Root punches the ball straight down the ground for a boundary off the second delivery, with just four runs from the remaining five deliveries.
# England 60/1 (10 overs) with five runs from Dwaine Pretorius's opening over. Roy and Root indulge in risk-free gameplay completing three singles and a double.
# England 55/1 (9 overs) as Root smashes his first boundary of the innings against Rabada pulling the ball behind deep square leg.
# England 49/1 (8 overs) with Kagiso Rabada introduced into the attack by Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis. Rabada concedes four runs off his opening over with a boundary from the first delivery by Jason Roy down the track. No runs from the remaining deliveries. Ngidi continues to bowl at the other end with Jason Roy making it two consecutive boundaries off two overs with a front foot drive through extra cover. 6 runs scored off Ngidi.
# England 36/1 (6 overs) with the hosts scoring 23 runs from the fifth and sixth overs of the innings. English skipper Joe Root smashes two boundaries off the fifth over of the innings bowled by Imran Tahir, followed by a third consecutive boundary against Lungi Ngidi who bowled the sixth over.
# England 16/1 (4 overs) as Joe Root continues to attack Lungi Ngidi with a second boundary against the pace-bowler through square leg having figured the length out early. Just a single off the remaining five deliveries as Ngidi controls the flow of runs despite the boundary.
# England 11/1 (3 overs) as Tahir continues to bowl following a successful first over. Four runs off Tahir's second over with the two English batsmen completing four singles without indulging in any risky gameplay.
# England 7/1 (2 overs) as Joe Root smashes the first boundary of the English innings to deep extra cover off the fourth delivery of the over. 6 runs off the over.
# Lungi Ngidi to bowl the second over of the innings!
# Just a single off the first over bowled by Imran Tahir along with the dismissal of in-form batsman Jonny Bairstow for a duck. England 1/1 (1 over)
# Joe Root is the next batsman in!
# Wicket! Jonny Bairstow dismissed for a duck off the second delivery of the first over as the batsman edges the ball to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. England 0/1 (0.2 overs)
# Spinner Imran Tahir to bowl the opening over!
# England openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy are set to kick off the innings!
# The clash is set to commence in a few minutes with both the teams on the field for the national anthem ceremony!
England, which is currently the No 1-ranked ODI side in the world, is seen by many as the favourites to win the World Cup this time but third-ranked South Africa will definitely not allow the hosts to get two points easily.
England boast of a very strong batting line-up, which includes superstars like Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root and Jos Buttler. In the bowling department, the hosts have Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, who are capable of ripping apart any opposition.
On the other hand, South Africa will also take the field to start their World Cup campaign on a positive note.
For South Africa, Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis are the batsmen who will shoulder the responsibility of scoring the bulk of the runs. The bowling unit will definitely miss the presence of Dale Steyn but spinner Imran Tahir and young pacer Kagiso Rabada are definitely a threat for any batsman in the world.
