SA VS ENG: Temba Bavuma’s brilliant 102 helps Proteas chase a record total to secure ODI series
South Africa VS England 2nd ODI: South Africa sealed a one-day international series victory over England as captain Temba Bavuma’s century led a brilliant run chase in his side’s five-wicket win.
England looked to have set a strong total as captain Jos Buttler (94 not out) and Harry Brook (80) led the tourists to 342-7 after Bavuma had put them in to bat in Bloemfontein.
However, the Proteas skipper led from the front with 109 from 102 balls, as South Africa kept up with the required rate throughout. Later, David Miller (58 not out) and Marco Jansen (32 not out) saw them home with five balls to spare after an unbroken stand of 65. With this South Africa confidently chased down their third highest target in ODIs.
1. 438-9 vs Australia, March 2006
2. 372-6 vs Australia, October 2016
3. 347-5 vs England, January 2023
The victory gives South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of Wednesday’s series finale, and provides a further boost to their hopes of securing automatic qualification for the World Cup later this year in India.
South Africa VS England: Bavuma ton clinches series win for South Africa
Bavuma’s 102-ball 109 was his first century in 34 international innings across the formats, among them three efforts of 50 or more – one of them 93 – and 11 dismissals for single-figure scores. His performance was more than the sum of those parts.
It was a declaration of defiance in the face of often unfair, patently racist criticism, a snook cocked at being ignored by the SA20 franchise owners, a balm for a soul stung by presiding over defeat by the Netherlands in Adelaide in November, and with that elimination from the race for a T20 World Cup semi-final berth.
Bavuma has plenty to feel bitter about. On Sunday life was sweet enough, post cramp, for this famously serious player to crack a joke in his television interview: “It’s good that I reminded myself how to count to a hundred.”
The win earned South Africa the series and represented England’s fifth consecutive loss in the format. The visitors might struggle to explain to themselves how that happened. The South Africans did their bit for England’s cause by conceding 34 extras. The visitors looked unstoppable. Until they were stopped.
One final chance for England to get a win on the board in this series, in Kimberley on Wednesday.
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