Ben Stokes urges England to keep the heat on South Africa

England chased down South Africa’s 262 for 7 easily to win the second one-day worldwide by five wickets on Saturday and take a formidable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

England’s match-winning wicketkeeper-batsman is out to cash in on his rich one-day interntional form after hitting a second successive hundred as the tourists went 1-0 up on South Africa in Bloemfontein.

The hosts’ new-look pace attack showcased a wayward bowling performance in prime batting conditions in the opening match in Bloemfontein, which England won by 39 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method on Wednesday. “I tried to pick it up at the end but then I got out and we lost a couple more wickets”. South Africa have underperformed in a big way this summer and the players will know that they have to right the wrongs.

That South Afirca, driven by Quinton de Kock’s blazing, unbeaten 96-ball 138, believed itself on course to overhaul England’s 399 for 9 shows just how hungry the side is to get that much desired win.

England’s innings was twice interrupted by rain, with their target eventually revised down to 150 in 35 overs after South Africa had made 196 having chosen to bat first.

It will be interesting to see whether South Africa rest their star pacer Morne Morkel, keeping the upcoming World T20 in mind. He is a multi-faceted cricketer, risky with the bat, more agile than most at slip and in the deep, and when de Villiers failed to middle another mighty hit over the leg side off Ben Stokes in the following over, Jordan was equal to the challenge.

The target was ordinary as per current standards but England also suffered a early setback in the form of Jason Roy. But, then Alex Hales along with Root and later Eoin Morgan turned the game into England favor.

The only real partnership for South Africa was between De Villiers and Duminy, who put on 107 for the fourth wicket.

Both the teams are expected to make several changes in their sides before today’s game.

To borrow from the captain’s own words, there was some “crash, bang, wallop” as Jos Buttler ensured no tight finish with three sixes and four fours from his 28 balls. The duo seemed to be in complete hurry as the final overs of the England innings saw a barrage of sixes and fours which enabled the visitors script a wonderful victory with 5 wickets in hand and more than three overs to spare. They still hardly play worldwide cricket (they had just three fixtures in 2015 compared to England’s eight), but there is a distinct improvement in their cricket.