Dominant South Africa crush sorry England
Graeme Smith led his side to an easy win
Also In The News
|
England cruised to a 6-0 victory over minnows Andorra at Wembley to maintain their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying. |  |
Thursday, 11, Jun 2009 10:01
A woeful batting display from England saw them lose by seven wickets to South Africa in the World Twenty20 Super Eights clash.
England captain Paul Collingwood won the toss and decided to bat, but it proved to be a mistake as his side were bowled out for just 111. South Africa cruised to the victory target with Jacques Kallis hitting an unbeaten 57.
Ravi Bopara was the first to go for England for just two as he dragged-on a Dale Steyn delivery on to his stumps. England found themselves in a hole at 4-2 when Luke Wright was caught behind by Mark Boucher off the bowling of Wayne Parnell.
In stepped Kevin Pietersen to face the country of his birth and got off to a good start as he smacked 19 off just 17 balls, which included four fours. But England's best batsman went at the worst possible time as he was caught at mid-on by Roelof Van Der Merwe off the bowling of Albie Morkel in the sixth over.
Collingwood and Owais Shah got England back on track with a 53 run partnership. But once Collingwood was bowled by Kallis for 19, England collapsed to 111 not out, with Shah top-scoring with 38 and none of the bottom six batsmen managing to get into double figures.
James Foster and Dimitri Mascarenhas were particularly disappointing as both played poor shots to be dismissed for one at a time when their team desperately needed them to perform.
Wicket-keeper Foster tried to play a reverse sweep and was caught at backward point, while Mascarenhas tried to cut a ball which was too close to him and was unable to prevent it from going on to clatter into his stumps.
Stuart Broad gave England some hope when he had South Africa captain Graeme Smith caught behind for just 11. But the Proteas strolled along with Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs (30) milking the England bowling.
Gibbs fell to Graeme Swann late on AB de Villiers to Adil Rashid, but it made no difference as South Africa cruised to victory with 2.4 overs to spare.