South Africa beaten in 2nd ODI as England level series at 1-1

MANCHESTER: Dwaine Pretorius produced a career-best bowling display for the Proteas but it was still not enough as they fell to a 118-run defeat to England in a rain-affected second One-Day International (ODI) at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday. 

In a match reduced to 29 overs per side on account of the weather, South Africa batted first and delivered an impressive display in the field to shoot out their hosts for 201 in 28.1 overs.But in reply, the tourists lost four wickets inside the first four overs, severely derailing the chase, before they eventually fell to 83 all out in 20.4 overs. 

Liam Livingstone was England's best with 38, contributing in a brisk 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket with player of the match Sam Curran (35 off 18 balls) that hauled the hosts from 6-101 to 7-144 at one stage.

It meant that England claimed a series-levelling win and the three-match sequence will now be decided when they meet in the third ODI in Leeds on Sunday. The South Africans will be disappointed, however, that they did not do better in match two, especially after turning in such an excellent showing with the ball. 

Rain had hampered the start and threatened to ruin the match altogether after blanketing the ground for most of the day. But after a delay of more than four hours, the weather cleared allowing for a shortened game.  

Proteas captain Keshav Maharaj won the toss and asked England to bat first and his decision was fully vindicated by the bowlers as they sliced through the top order of the home team. Anrich Nortje (2/53) claimed the first wicket of Jason Roy (14), before Pretorius dismissed Phil Salt (17), Joe Root (1) and Jonny Bairstow (28). 

Maharaj (1/29) then removed Moeen Ali (6) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/39) accounted for Jos Buttler (19) leaving the hosts in major trouble on 101 for six. They recovered slightly in the second half of their innings thanks to Liam Livingstone (38) and Sam Curran (35), before Pretorius added the wicket of David Willey (21) to his tally to beat his previous best figures of three for five. 

England were all out with five balls to spare, leaving the tourists favourites at that stage. But early wickets left them in a melee as they found themselves on six for four. Heinrich Klaasen (33) tried his best to get them going but lacked support and they were eventually bowled out for their joint lowest ODI total against England.