Morris magic helps South Africa level series

The South African team has never lost an ODI while decked in pink and they continued their winning ways, this time against England, at the Wanderers on Friday thanks to a brilliant rear-guard action by all-rounder Chris Morris.

England will have a final chance to test themselves in a high-pressure environment on Sunday (February 14), when they face South Africa in the fifth and final One-Day International of their series in Cape Town.

Proteas leveled the five-match series at Johannesberg on Friday as they registered a thrilling one-wicket victory over the visitors, according to The Guardian.

England were going along nicely at 87-1, with Alex Hales recording his fourth consecutive half-century of the series.

South Africa were counted out of the game at one stage when they were 8 down and in came the star of the show, Chris Morris. But he had done job and it was up to the last man Imran Tahir and Abbott to complete the win and Tahir had done it with a boundary.

He got rid of Morgan and Stokes, both scoring 2 runs, in the 20th over to put England on 97/4.

Morgan added: “We had chances in the field, that’s the most disappointing thing”.

That the match went so deep seemed unlikely when England were floundering at 108 for six after being sent in to bat.

Earlier, Root made 109 as England was bowled out for 262 in 47.5 overs.

The lower order managed to more than double the score with Chris Woakes ably supporting Root in a 95-run stand. Root dabbed singles and began to use his feet to attack, hitting the only six of the innings when he lifted Kyle Abbott over mid on.

Knight smashed the first six of the innings after reaching her half-century but was soon out for 61 to Dane van Niekerk.

The rest of Broad’s match was less successful, although he had de Villiers dropped on nine off the first ball of his second spell, with Jason Roy diving far to his right but failing to hold on to a fiercely-struck cut. It was his third four-wicket haul in only his 13th ODI.

“They want to impress because they have a new coach but for the bowling to get taken to the cleaners, I think this will really hurt England”.

Morris had been brought in to replace Morne Morkel at the Wanderers, and the move paid off, but it doesn’t solve South Africa’s overall imbalance.

In the same over, Morris was dropped by Rashid and the game could have well gone out of reach for the hosts.

Wyatt’s innings was ended by a stunning catch at backward point from 16-year-old Laura Wolfvaardt off Luus’ bowling, but Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Dani Hazell all scored at better than a run a ball as more than 94 runs came from the last 10 overs.

A useful cameo from Adil Rashid (39 off 26 balls) helped England up to 262 before he was the last wicket to fall, a tiring Root having scooped to fine leg, and Stuart Broad picking out long-on.

Kagiso Rabada was dismissed for a golden duck by Topley and the hosts were seen struggling 210/8 in 41.3 overs, still needing 53 to save the series. Charlotte Edwards, playing her 190th global, was dismissed for 45 by leg-spinner Suné Luus, who took a tough caught-and-bowled chance to leave the touring side on 94 for four.