BLOEMFONTEIN — England's dismal run in white-ball cricket continued unabated as they were soundly beaten by 5 wickets in the second one-day international against South Africa, conceding the three-match series with a game to spare.
Set a modest target of 343 for victory, the Proteas chased it down with 5.1 overs remaining, powered by a magnificent, career-best 118* from opener Temba Bavuma and a blistering 109 from Rassie van der Dussen. The result marks another significant setback for England's rebuilding efforts under new captain Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott.
A Promising Start Fades into Familiar Collapse
England's innings began with genuine promise. After being put in to bat, Jason Roy (113) and Dawid Malan (118) put on a spectacular 146-run opening partnership, both registering centuries. At 146/0 in the 21st over, a total well in excess of 350 seemed not just probable but inevitable. "We were in a fantastic position," a dejected Buttler admitted in the post-match presentation. "Two guys at the top played brilliantly, but we just couldn't kick on and get that really imposing score we should have."
The turning point came with the introduction of part-time spinner Aiden Markram, who removed both set batters in quick succession. Roy holed out to long-on and Malan was caught at cover, triggering a now-familiar middle-order implosion. From the commanding position of 146/0, England lost their next 7 wickets for just 125 runs, stumbling to 271/7 before a late flurry from Sam Curran (28) and Jofra Archer (18*) provided a semblance of respectability.
Bowling Attack Fails to Defend Once Again
A total of 342/7, while below par on a flat Mangaung Oval pitch, was still considered defendable. However, England's bowling attack lacked penetration and control from the outset. Bavuma and Quinton de Kock (31) started aggressively, putting on 77 for the first wicket to immediately put the pressure back on the visitors. While Adil Rashid (2/72) picked up two wickets, the pace attack of Archer, Olly Stone, and Curran proved expensive, offering too many boundary balls.
The key partnership was the unbroken 199-run stand for the fourth wicket between Bavuma and van der Dussen, who systematically dismantled the English bowling. They expertly picked the gaps, ran hard between the wickets, and punished any error in length with ruthless efficiency. Van der Dussen's century came from just 90 balls, while Bavuma's, his sixth in ODIs, was a masterclass in controlled aggression.
The defeat follows a similar pattern to the recent losses against Australia and India, highlighting several recurring issues for the reigning world champions:
- Inability to build on strong platform-setting partnerships.
- A fragile middle-order that collapses under pressure.
- A bowling attack struggling for wickets in the powerplay.
Leadership Under Scrutiny as Problems Mount
The series loss places immense scrutiny on the new leadership duo of Buttler and Mott. Since taking over from Eoin Morgan, the team has won just 5 of their 15 completed ODIs. Questions are being asked about the team's tactical approach and mentality. "It's very disappointing," Buttler said. "We've got to find ways to build those partnerships for longer and our bowling needs to be more clinical."
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, commentating for Sky Sports, was critical of the team's performance. "The concern is that this isn't a one-off. This is a pattern. They get into good positions and then seem to switch off. The intensity drops, and world-class opponents like South Africa punish you. They look a shadow of the team that dominated white-ball cricket for so long."
Looking Ahead to the World Cup Defense
With the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India now less than a year away, these consistent failures are a major cause for alarm. The team that revolutionized ODI cricket with its aggressive, fearless brand appears to have lost its identity and its winning habit. The selectors and coaching staff face a race against time to address the glaring issues within the squad.
South African captain Temba Bavuma, named Player of the Match, was understandably delighted with his team's character. "It was a clinical chase. The way Rassie and I built that partnership, we always felt in control. It's a massive series win for us and gives us great confidence moving forward. We knew 340 was chaseable on this ground if we applied ourselves."
The third and final ODI at the same venue on Wednesday now becomes a dead rubber, but it represents a crucial opportunity for England to salvage some pride and find a much-needed victory. For South Africa, it's a chance to complete a clean sweep and solidify their own preparations for a busy year of cricket, proving their victory was no fluke and building momentum for their own World Cup campaign.