ENG vs SA, Review | Bethell and Archer take spotlight in Southampton as England achieve biggest victory margin in ODIs

South Africa won the toss and elected to field first in hopes of restricting England to a below-par score. However, opening batters Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett were up to the task and were scoring at a brisk rate. The partnership of 59 off 51 deliveries was looking good until Corbin Bosch dismissed Duckett in the 9th over with a well-directed bouncer. Though Duckett failed to convert his start, Smith was joined by Joe Root at the other end, who controlled the strike with his elegant strokeplay while Smith played the aggressor. Both batters added another 58 runs to the total until Smith’s explosive knock of 62 off 48 deliveries came to an end at the hands of Keshav Maharaj in the 17th over. However, the Three Lions were still in a commanding position with the score reading 119/2. The nightmare for the Proteas continued as Root started to find the boundaries, and Jacob Bethell took over the attacking role from Smith. The two batters put on 182 runs for the third wicket as Bethell brought up his maiden ODI century in just 76 deliveries, and Root looked well set at the other end. This partnership put the hosts in a solid position with the score reading 299/2 at the end of 40 overs. There was some respite for South Africa as Maharaj managed to get the prized wicket of Bethell, as he was out stumped on a score of 110 off 82 balls, and England skipper Harry Brook was run out cheaply on the fourth delivery by Codi Yusuf. Despite the two quick dismissals, Root continued the run flow and was supported by some explosive shots from Jos Buttler at the other end. The two experienced campaigners formed a quickfire stand of 69 off 38 deliveries before Root was dismissed soon after getting to his 19th ODI century in the 47th over. After Root’s dismissal, Buttler and Will Jacks added another 42 runs in the last three overs as England finished on a massive score of 414/5 with the former England skipper remaining unbeaten on 62 off just 32 deliveries.

To chase down a big score, the Rainbow Nation needed a good start. Unfortunately, they were put under the pump by England pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse and straight away put in a precarious position of 24/6 in the first 10 overs. While Archer found the outside edges of Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, and Tristan Stubbs, Brydon Carse joined the party with the wickets of Wiaan Mulder and  Dewald Brevis. Though there was a slight resistance from Maharaj and Bosch, who tried to build a partnership to rescue the South African innings, they were subdued by the guile of Adil Rashid, who dismissed the last three batters. As South African skipper Temba Bavuma was unable to come into bat due to a calf injury he sustained in the first innings, the Proteas innings ended on an abysmal score of 72.  With this win, not only did  England ruin the clean sweep hopes for the African nation, but they also achieved their biggest victory margin in ODI cricket.

Though Bethell and Root were applauded for their centuries, it was England’s expressman Jofra Archer who was adjudged as the player of the match for his incredible spell of 4/18 in his nine overs.