ENG VS SA 1ST ODI

Right then, South Africa go 1-0 up in this three-match ODI series. This game also brings curtains on a fantastic ODI career of Ben Stokes. The show must go on though and both these sides will lock horns again in the second ODI on Friday, 22nd of July. That game will start at 5.30 pm IST (12 pm GMT). Our build-up though begins a lot earlier. So do join us for the same. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Rassie van der Dussen WINS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD for his sensational ton. He says it was a pretty hot day. Mentions it was good day to win the toss. Adds they planned to come into this tour and play smartly. They aimed to hit the gaps and run between the wickets. Also says their innings did not see a maximum which is hardly ever seen. Informs they are happy with their batting performance and would look into it tomorrow.

Keshav Maharaj, the skipper of South Africa says that the boys were clinical. Adds that Quinton de Kock and Malan set the platform and Rassie van der Dussen played a special innings. Mentions that partnerships were the key. Also says that Markram is a handy allrounder whose bowling is underrated. In the end says Nortje knows about his role and he stuck to his discipline. Says that it was quite hot out there which reminded him of home. Also informs that Andile Phehlukwayo is all fine and jokingly adds that he underestimated his size.

Jos Buttler, the skipper of England, says that it was a tough day in the heat and they just could not break the partnership and it was a fantastic partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram. Tells that they could not get the breakthrough in the middle overs and they also did not impose themselves with the bat and adds that the wicket got slower and lower as the game progressed. Mentions that South Africa were smarter and executed their plans well. Says that they are improving with the games they are playing and adds that with some senior players not around now, they need to regroup as a team. He thanks Stokes for everything he has done for English cricket in the ODI format and tells that he always gives his 100 per cent and says that he has been the fantastic ambassador in ODI cricket and they will miss him.

Presentation time...

Earlier in the game, the partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Markarm helped South Africa put a mammoth total on the board. Rassie van der Dussen scored a century hile Markram and Malan notched up their fifties. England bowled well in the death with their slower deliveries but were below par in the rest of the innings. South African bowlers used the same ploy that England used in the death and in end it proved too much for the English batters on this slow and low pitch.

South Africa, on the other hand, were just brilliant in this game. They had their plans ready with the ball after seeing how the pitch behaved in the first half and though they got their first wicket in the 19th over, they never really let the game drift away from them. Once they got the first breakthrough which was provided by the skipper Keshav Maharaj, they made sure that they keep the pressure on. Markram turned out to be a man with the golden arm as he got two big wickets and all other bowlers then chipped in with some tight bowling. Nortje bowled with good heat and got three wickets in one over that sealed the deal for the Proteas in the end.

The target was a stiff one for England but given the firepower England have in their ranks, they would have fancied chasing down this total. However, the pitch was a tricky one and England openers started off cautiously and managed to put together a stand of 102-run. However, once that partnership was broken, England continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and the required rate started creeping up. Root held one end up and also scored at a brisk rate but with over 10 runs an over needed in the last 15 overs, they needed the likes of Livingstone and Moeen Ali to step up but it was not the case today and despite a fine knock of 86 from 77 balls from Root and a fifty from Bairstow, England have fallen well short of the target.

South Africa have registered a comprehensive win over the more-fancied English unit here at Chester-Le-Street. They were on the mark with their execution with both bat and ball while England just could not match up the execution level and the intensity of the Proteas in this game. This was a special game for England as one of their greatest all-rounders was playing his last game in this format but sadly they have not been able to give him a fitting farewell.

OUT! CAUGHT! Anrich Nortje ends the innings with a four-fer. Back of a length, on off. Brydon Carse looks to heave it across the line. It catches the toe-end and flies towards long on. Dwaine Pretorius pouches it safely. SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE GAME BY 62 RUNS.

WIDE! Brydon Carse goes down the leg side, Anrich Nortje follows him with a slow short ball. Carse misses his pull attempt. Wide called.

Back of a length, on middle. Carse looks to hook it away but misses.

FOUR! Up and over! Carse is on a roll here. Full length, on off. Carse lofts it straight over the bowler's head for four.

Length ball, on the pads, Carse flicks it past the diving mid-wicket fielder. They take two.

Slower bumper, on middle Potts goes to the leg side and punches it to point for a quick single.

FOUR! Brydon Carse giving the fans something to cheer. It is short and on off. Carse comes down the track and swings hard at it. It goes over backward point off the outside edge and finds a boundary.

Slower ball, full length, on off. Carse chips it to deep mid-wicket but it lands safely. The batters take two.