Ken Borland

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James asked:

Hi Ken, why did the Proteas” performance dip so dramatically in the 2nd and 3rd tests? Did they experiment too much, or is the lenghth of the tour taking its toll?

Ken answered:

Hi James
I presume you mean the 3rd & 4th ODIs?
I think there was some mental fatigue involved as well as perhaps some complacency after the big win in the 2nd game. We just didn’t bat well enough, and that was partly due to too much experimentation in the batting order too, I believe.

Peter asked:

Ken,the last ODI proves yet again(when under severe pressure) that we are not chokers and respond to pressure pretty well(Newlands test v Aussies)We are self destructors(the Qval and World Cup v NZ)when we become complacent and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when on top. Your thoughts please. .

Ken answered:

Hi Peter, I don’t think the World Cup defeat to New Zealand had anything to do with complacency, probably the opposite! We succumbed under pressure and expectation there. But yes, on other occasions we have self-destructed and there has been a hint of complacency. I just think some of the batsmen are so good that sometimes they fail to give their opposition enough respect.

zaheed asked:

Why is there no fixed batsman in the middle order,its keep changing

Ken answered:

Gary Kirsten has wanted to experiment, but I would be far happier if Kallis/Elgar and De Villiers are fixed at 3 and 4, then, depending on how many overs are left, 5,6 and 7 can shuffle.

Chris asked:

Hi,Ken
Waarom probeer boul Lonwabo nie oor die paaltjie in plas van linksom nie,as jy sien hoe skuins moet sy paaltjiewagter in sy aflewering gaan.Dit is om sy aflewerings af te wissel of hoe?

Ken answered:

Hi Chris
Vergewe my as ek in Engels skryf!
I think Lonwabo does go over the wicket a lot – he’s a left-hander remember so it will be the other side to Steyn etc.If he comes around the wicket, there’s the danger of him angling into the pads of the batsman. From over the wicket, he can bring the ball back into the right-hander as a surprise delivery.

 

graeme asked:

Hi Ken , Vernon Philander is #2 in test rankings , how come he is not selected for the ODI

Ken answered:

Hi Graeme
The feeling is that he’s a bit predictable for ODIs, needs to work more on slower balls and other variations. His great strength is putting the ball in the same place every time, which doesn’t work in modern-day limited-overs cricket.

robert tapiwa mandeya asked:

who is our #3 batsman when kallis is unavailable,,these guys have to serious & where is our petersen the gret open

Ken answered:

Well Dean Elgar was meant to be Kallis’s replacement, but I was disappointed to see him batting at 6 in one innings! I guess one could include Alviro Petersen either as an opener or in place of Graeme Smith. Hashim at 3 perhaps, but maybe 1,2 & 3 will all be too alike then?

Tshepo asked:

Hi Ken
Do you think AB made a mistake in a 3rd ODI when he chose to bat first because I think SA perform better when we field first.

Ken answered:

Hi Tshepo
No, if anything the pitch became slower & lower, with more turn. We just batted really badly after a good start!

Daniël asked:

Hi Ken

The ODI”s was a bit boring for me don”t know if is becaues of the high of the tests, don”t know if it is because of the 2 new balls, you”re thoughts? Secondly, Ricard Levi don”t we need him at the top in ODI”s just to get it going?

thank you!

Ken answered:

Hi Daniël
I think there was a bit of a hangover from the tests and yes, having two new balls in English conditions will keep the batsmen quieter.
I think Levi probably deserves a look opening the batting in ODIs.

Adrian asked:

Hi Ken do you think SA will still be a force to be reckon with after Kallis retires! And is AB is real solution to our keeper problems! It seems that the keeping is taking its toll on his batting! One fifty on this tour so far! To captain, to keep and to bat is a lot to do if you ask for consistency!

Ken answered:

Hi Adrian
What you say about AB is exactly what I’ve been saying for months! For potentially the best batsman in the world to score just one half-century the whole tour is very disappointing. AB should be a consistent match-winner with the bat for us, much like Amla.
There is no doubt Kallis will leave a massive hole when he retires. We’ve seen the difficulties in balancing the side in this series. But I believe we have the talent to still be a major force, it will just be tougher!

Mandlenkosi asked:

Who will captain the proteas in the T20 match against England

Ken answered:

AB de Villiers

KR asked:

GoodDay Ken,

Just one question…..

With all the experimentation going on in out one-day set-up.
Provided everyone is fit what would you say out best first 11 is in batting order please?

Ken answered:

Hello KR
I would go Smith (although maybe Levi should be looked at), Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Du Plessis (deserves another chance), Duminy, A. Morkel, Peterson, Parnell or Tsotsobe depending on conditions, Steyn, M. Morkel

Barend asked:

Hi Ken.
Last year in the World cup SA also used a spinner to open the bowling,and just like the last England game it paid off. Is that because the pitches in the sub continent is similar to england”s? If not don”t you think SA should more gamble with that decision cause it seems the opening batsmen are strugling with the new ball spinning?

Ken answered:

Hi Barend
I think in their planning, nobody expected the pitches in England to be so uncharacteristically slow, low and turning. The decision to open with a spinner was a belated one, especially given England’s history against spin. It’s a good surprise tactic and we should keep using it from time-to-time.

mike asked:

Hi, Is it possible to get stumped of a free hit? if not can the keeper run you out of a free hit, in the fashion that prior got morkel out in the tests?

Ken answered:

Hi Mike
You can’t be stumped off a free hit, but you can be run out. Prior stumped Morkel because he wasn’t making any attempt at a run. That would be the key for a free hit as well, was the batsman attempting a run?

Tumelo asked:

Hi Ken

I think the team was not well balanced in the 1st 3 games played,with Parnell coming in at 7 and with the same type of pace bowlers in Parnell and Styne.My 2nd point is AB and Gary were a bit naive in the last odi by not sending AB in @3 i knw faf is not a finisher hence Dean and faf have to fight for that spot and Ontong, Farhaan and Albie for the no.7 spot

Ken answered:

Hi Tumelo
Yes, balance was an issue but more so the batting order. I agree, Parnell should not be as high as 7, but he and Steyn are very different bowlers, never mind the whole left-arm/right-arm thing!
I don’t mind AB not batting 3 if there’s a Kallis or Elgar there, but he must bat 4! He’s our best ODI batsman and needs to face enough overs. Elgar is not a finisher, he’s an accumulator, while Faf is less a finisher than a good guy to rotate the strike, take singles etc with the occasional boundary. For me, Albie is the obvious guy at 7, maybe Miller if we have enough bowling.

Philip asked:

Do you believe that Wayne Parnell is worthy of a place in the team?

Ken answered:

He’s certainly worth having in the squad. He’s been bowling better and obviously has potential as a batsman. Not sure if we can afford both him and Tsotsobe in the XI, but I wouldn’t discard either of them just yet.

kevin pillay asked:

Hi ken jest a bit worried wid the lack of a quality cover for kallis. We seam to have a lot of bawling allrounders but none of them can do the job kallis does at the top of the order. Is there someone in the domestic game that”s a batting allrounder n can play a similar (not same coz kallis is a legend) rowl to what he does. Coz I can”t see anyone putting the hand up an saying pick me I”m a top allrounder. Thanx ken

Ken answered:

Hi Kevin
Well we’re highly unlikely to ever find someone who can cover what Kallis does! But guys like Elgar, Duminy, Du Plessis can develop into genuine batting all-rounders. They’re probably the best available at the moment. As far as bowling all-rounders go, you’re looking at Albie Morkel, McLaren, Parnell. But everyone knew it would take two players to replace Kallis!

Abdullah asked:

Hi Ken,Dont you think Faf or Kallis should open the batting alongside Levi in the T20”s.Dont get me wrong Amla is world class but jus not in this Format

Ken answered:

Hi Abdullah
I think Hashim has proven conclusively that whenever someone says he can’t play a certain format he’ll prove them wrong! Plus he’s in such great form at the moment, it would be crazy not to use him. For me, Levi, Amla, Kallis is the way to go, although Kallis will have to be more explosive if we don’t lose early wickets, or drop down the order.

Victor asked:

Hi Ken, deducting from the 3rd and 4th ODI performance of our former skipper Gream Smith, don”t you think is the time he steps down because he”s costing us. Most successful teams win matches because of their good start and Smith in two matches he didn”t even make 50 runs. So I personally think is time Alviro comes back to the ODI setup as a opener to partner with Amla maybe going forward we can be a threat to many teams. What”s your say on this matter?

Ken answered:

Hi Victor
I think in difficult conditions, Graeme didn’t do too badly. He scored 52 in the 2nd ODI, and in 3 of the 4 completed games the opening partnership was more than 50 in good time. I think Alviro is too similar to Amla and if the selectors wanted to look at another option, perhaps Levi should have a go?

Gino Ruiters asked:

The series clearly showed that we need a big hitting all rounder at number 7. Albie”s the obvious choice, but who can really make that role their own keeping the 2015 world cup in mind?

Ken answered:

Albie is the obvious choice but is now adding frustrating injuries to a certain lack of consistency! The other option is a specialist batsman like David Miller, with Duminy and Du Plessis having to bowl more overs …

Jason asked:

Don”t you feel like our ODI middle order needs to be strengthed?

I feel like Faf Du Plessis has had more than enough chances and he hasn”t made a big impact in the batting department. I know his fielding is incredible.

I would definately play Jacques Rudolph in the ODI team and recall Dave Miller and give him a proper shot. I would also give Justin Ontong a proper go as he is such an improved cricketer compared to a few years ago.

Lastly Wayne Parnell is not an allrounder.He is a bowler who can bat a little bit…

What are your thoughts?

Ken answered:

You’ve mentioned bringing in Rudolph, Miller and Ontong, so who are the three players to drop out? Du Plessis, Duminy and ?
Faf has failed in his last 3 innings, but it’s the first time he’s failed for any length of time!
I don’t think Jacques Rudolph is suited to the middle-order, he’s an opening batsman in limited-overs cricket.
Parnell can become a bowling all-rounder, he has potential with the bat.

Lwazi Matiwane asked:

Why cant we try Justin Ontong on no.3 because Elgar has failed twice now.Your take

Ken answered:

Elgar only failed in his last innings. I don’t think Ontong’s really a number three, see him more as the busy player rotating the strike in the middle to late overs, probably at 5.

Werner asked:

Hi ken

Watching the tour off england is very exciting and i thing we are doing very well in England.Just one question.

Who is our finisher in the lower order when albi morkel are not playing

Ken answered:

Hi Werner
I would suggest Duminy is the man for the job, but why was he batting number three then?! But we certainly missed Albie …

phillip.bergh asked:

Am i correct in assuming that big V Philander is on a hat trick in the next test.

Ken answered:

Ha ha, yes he took 2 wickets in 2 balls to end the Lord’s test, but it won’t count as a hat-trick if he gets another wicket first ball of his next test.

Peter asked:

Ken thanks for your reply.World Cup vs NZ at 100 odd for 3 needing 4 an over,Kallis threw his wicket away and AB was needlessly run out. Only then came the severe pressure.

Ken answered:

Well I think AB’s wicket was down to pressure but yes, Kallis was out of the blue!

Ronald asked:

Hi Ken, we all know the middle order struggled this ODI series. All the relative “new” players that came in,I believe are guys with extreme talent…I would like to see them (same players)get at least another chance in the next ODI series and see what they can do then after their first experience for the Proteas. What is your feeling around choosing the same (relative) squad for next ODI series based on the outcome of the ENG ODI?

Ken answered:

Hi Ronald
Yes, I mostly agree with you. Kallis should come back, so not sure whether Elgar stays in the squad then or not. Graeme Smith might become an issue, in which case you might want to look at Levi.Plus hopefully Albie Morkel will be fit, otherwise someone like Miller might need to be called up.

Roberto asked:

Hi Ken
I just want to comment on the AB keeper issue. You said that he shouldn”t keep because that”s the reason (or could be) he didn”t perform in this series. I”m not sure about that, since he didn”t bat well every time we batted first (wich means he didn”t keep yet), and when we batted second he made a good score. I fully agree that he shouldn”t keep in tests, but ODI”s and T20”s I”m not too sure. Your thoughts on that?

Ken answered:

Hi Roberto, yeah I don’t think the issue of him keeping in limited-overs games is cut and dried yet. I see the value of him doing it, and maybe his quiet series had more to do with him not being settled at 4 where he should be! Your point about making runs batting second does have merit.

Johann asked:

Happy with performance yet not with that of Faf.

Why did they persist with him being totally out of form.

Ken answered:

They persisted with him because he has only failed in his last 3 innings! Before that he was doing a great job, and his bowling and fielding make him a very valuable limited-overs player.

Bongani M asked:

Well done to proteas for the fight back, still believe the balance of 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers is correct combination for Champions Trophy 2013 and WC in 2015 especilly with luck of having ABDV give us in wicketkeeper-batsman.

I”m worried with depht in our batting and combinations I tend to think we should standard batting order and everybody know his position and role clarity so that a player can be hold responsible for poor perfomance.
Too dependent on Amla too much when he does not score no-one seems to take responsibility what are your thoughts.

Bowling is perfoming well AD is doing good work.

Ken answered:

Yes Bongani, I would also like to see a settled batting order. I know Gary wants the batsmen to learn about playing different situations, but that will happen naturally because one day you’re 220-3 the next you’re 20-3! The players have obvious strengths and it’s not going to work trying to turn Elgar into a David Miller or JP Duminy into a Hashim Amla!

Thabo asked:

Hi Ken id love to know that everytime South Africa played in the ODI,have changed their bating order a number of times,is this to prepare for the 20-20 world cup of is this going to be an on going thing.THANKS

Ken answered:

Hi Thabo
It was to give the batsmen experience of playing in different situations, but I think this happens naturally in the game anyway. It was unsettling so hopefully we will settle on a batting order now.

yaseen asked:

I”m happy with the effort of our team but I think our batting in the middle order lacks experiance if we could make one change I believe we will be a better team that is dropping smith and putting kallis there in the opening spot an then we could add a batter like ontong at seven

Ken answered:

I don’t think Ontong at 7 is the answer. We need a more explosive hitter there, like an Albie Morkel or David Miller.
50 overs is a long time and, as Jonathan Trott showed for England, having a solid number 3 who can lay a platform is important. Kallis is one of the best!

Christian asked:

Hi Ken,

My question is a bit deviant from the topic at hand. What do you think needs to be done to promote cricket as a global sport? How do we expand it? Isn”t it counter productive if a future tours programme has already been arranged for the next 5-10 years? How are the “associate nations” supposed to develop if they cant get adequate chances to play against the “full members?” I know the Woolf report addressed this, but it looks like it has quietly been thrown in the trash can. What are your thoughts?

Ken answered:

Hi Christian
The FTP does obstruct a lot of progress in cricket, but it was also essential to ensure the lesser nations – New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe – get cricket against the top 4. There is a pathway of tournaments for the associate nations to progress, but only at ODI level. Ireland want test status and it will be interesting to see how that goes …

Siyabonga asked:

We had a good ODI series didn`t we? I mean despite that we had a chance to top all three formats of the game in terms of ranking.

My question is, our bowlers are picked in terms of their perfomance/form. Shouldn`t they do the same to batsmen. I feel like as much as we need batsmen who can get runs on the board, we also need people who can score runs regularly beside Amla, deVilliers and Smith??

Ken answered:

I actually think the ODI series was disappointing because, apart from the second and last games, we really didn’t bat well.
Batting has a lot to do with confidence and before we start dropping people, perhaps we should settle on their positions in the batting order first.

Sechaba asked:

Hey Ken….with the T20 World Cup in a short do u think this T20 series will be enough preparation?

Ken answered:

Hi Sechaba
It’s preparation value will be limited because conditions in England should be very different to Sri Lanka! I guess they can get some team spirit and momentum going, build confidence, but most of the prep will have to be done in Sri Lanka.

ashley asked:

Hi ken, what is your take on the absense of albie in this series as I felt #7 was one postion to high for parnell.the form of faf du plessis, do u think he will be under pressure to hold his spot going forward, as I am a huge fan. Thanks

Ken answered:

Hi Ashley
I think we missed Albie badly because his finishing power was lacking. 7 is definitely too high for Parnell at the moment.
Faf had a bad run in this series, but has done very well in his other 23 ODIs. I guess he will be under some pressure, but he deserves another chance, not least of all because of the great package he provides with his fielding and bowling too.

Bart asked:

Is Greame Smith rested for the T20s? Why is it so difficult to beat England in their own conditions? When they tour SA we usually beat them handsomely!

Ken answered:

Graeme is not in the T20 squad, either for England or the World T20.
The England team have obviously grown up in their conditions, they hone their techniques in county cricket and it is very different to playing in the sub-continent or even in South Africa/Australia. Swing and seam bowling plays a much larger role. So they will obviously be much harder to beat at home, like all teams.

Johan Kleynhans asked:

Hi Ken, looking at the current squad and the way they performed in England, witch I think was a huge succes, do you think this squad has the ability to break the hoodoo of doing well in an ICC event and then loosing it when it matters? We realy need a title and I hope the T20 WC is the one.

Ken answered:

Hi Johan
I think this year might be a little early for this team, it’s still getting settled. But you never know, we have world-class match-winners and maybe not having the expectation will do the trick!

Andy asked:

Hi Ken
We seem to persist with Parnell despite his inconsistency. Surely we must give Philander an opportunity in limited over cricket before he seeks the big money elsewhere.

Ken answered:

Hi Andy
I seriously doubt that Philander is going anywhere! He’s such an integral part of our test line-up. Philander needs more variety, slower balls etc to do well in limited-overs internationals.
Parnell has been inconsistent, but I thought his bowling has improved and he bowled well through the series.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120907/Post_ODIseries_QA_with_Ken

Ian Bell was the main tormentor as England cruised to victory by six wickets with 20 balls to spare in the fourth NatWest One-Day International against South Africa at Lord’s in London on Sunday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120902/England_cruise_to_victory

England’s batsmen followed up the great work of bowlers Ravi Bopara, James Tredwell and Steven Finn in restricting South Africa to 220 for eight as they breezed to 224 for four in 46.4 overs.

Bell scored a terrific 88 off 137 balls to lead the charge, and it was his second-wicket partnership of 141 in 30.5 overs with Jonathan Trott (48) which laid the platform for the victory, while Craig Kieswetter contributed a little gem of 21 not out off 12 balls at the death.

South Africa’s bowlers, Dale Steyn apart, failed to make much impression on a pitch that always had a bit of nibble in it.

The fired-up Steyn produced a great delivery at the end of the first over to trap Alastair Cook lbw for two, but Bell and Trott ensured there would be no stadium finish.

Trott began his innings in an aggressive frame of mind, but Steyn gave him a torrid time in the seventh over, the last of his opening spell, and struck the batsman a fierce blow on the hand, which made the rest of his innings an exercise in survival more than anything else.

Fortunately for England, Bell was quickly into his stride and the home side were so in control that South African captain AB de Villiers had made eight bowling changes by the halfway mark.

Bell was so assured that he regularly came down the pitch to the pacemen and the off-side was where he scored most impressively en route to collecting eight fours and a six in all.

South African fans were left wondering where Morne Morkel (being rested) was as the attack toiled through 30 overs without making an impression.

A chance to Robin Peterson at mid-on off Lonwabo Tsotsobe on 65, the dismissal of Trott, trapped lbw when he missed a sweep at Dean Elgar, and even a 16-minute rain delay all failed to dampen Bell’s enthusiasm and he looked well on his way to a century.

Ryan McLaren did manage to get Ravi Bopara (6) to edge a delivery through to wicketkeeper De Villiers in the second over after the rain break, but Eoin Morgan came in and quickly helped Bell to take England to the brink of victory.

Steyn did return in the 44th over and forced Bell to edge a lifter to De Villiers, but Morgan, with a run-a-ball 36 not out, and Kieswetter, with three fours and a majestic six to win the game, rushed England to victory.

PERPLEXING BATTING ORDER

 

A top-class bowling performance by England had earlier restricted South Africa to just 220 for eight.

It was a disappointing batting performance again by South Africa, admittedly on a tricky pitch that was not conducive to fluent strokeplay, but full credit to England’s bowlers who kept the pressure on superbly.

South Africa only reached 220 thanks to Peterson blazing 31 not out off 20 balls at the death, with the middle-order once again wasting the good work of openers Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith up front in putting on 68 for the first wicket after being sent in to bat in conditions that suited seam bowling.

The continued shuffling of the batting order was also perplexing. Elgar should have batted three, where his patient innings would have built on the opening stand, and the busy JP Duminy at six to finish the innings. Wayne Parnell was also batted out of his capabilities at seven again, with all-rounder McLaren mysteriously down at nine.

Having been sent in to bat in overcast conditions in the morning, Amla and Smith were obviously going to start cautiously and they successfully saw off the dangerous pace bowling of Finn, Jimmy Anderson and Jade Dernbach, with the help of a couple of dropped catches in the slips by Tredwell.

The fireworks seemed to have just been lit as South Africa reached 68 after 19 overs, but Dernbach surprised Smith with a fiery short ball that kicked up above his shoulders, the left-hander edging his attempted hook to be caught behind by Kieswetter for 29 off 54 balls.

South Africa were still comfortable however as Amla and Duminy took them to a hundred in the 25th over, but neither of them kicked on.

Bopara, bowling lovely in-swingers off the slope at off-stump, sent Amla packing for 45 off 73 balls when he beat his drive and bowled him through the gate.

In the next over, Duminy was carelessly off down the pitch to spinner James Tredwell, who held the ball back a touch and obtained enough turn to beat a push into the leg side, Kieswetter completing the stumping to dismiss the left-hander for 18 off 22 balls.

Bopara, the very epitome of British military-medium and effective in these conditions, then bowled Faf du Plessis for just a single. Du Plessis tried the almost-impossible – running an in-swinger coming down the slope to third man – and only succeeded in dragging the ball back on to his stumps.

Captain De Villiers was surely the man for the crisis at 115 for four, but his super-powers have waned since all the added responsibility of keeping wicket and being captain has been thrust on him.

De Villiers had promised much in reaching 39 off 46 balls when the Cape-schooled Kieswetter pulled off a sharp stumping after the captain had come down the pitch and tried to drive Tredwell’s straight delivery inside-out over the covers.

Parnell may be a highly effective batsman in village cricket, but he again failed to fire at number seven in the international arena, scoring five off 13 balls before Tredwell beat him with a well-flighted, sharp-turning delivery that gave Kieswetter a third stumping and the England ODI record.

South Africa were 174 for six in the 44th over, but Peterson fought fire with fire and stunned England with some audacious strokes as he collected four fours and a six.

Elgar had been the rock of the innings in scoring 35 off 59 balls, before Kieswetter and Finn combined to remove him off a slower-ball bouncer. Dernbach chipped in by running out McLaren for a single off the next delivery, before Peterson and Dale Steyn (3*) scored five runs off the final over.

England’s bowlers had banded together splendidly. Finn took 1-33 in his 10 overs and was unlucky not to get more reward in the cold early morning conditions.

Bopara was outstanding with 2-34 in nine overs, but spin also plays a key role on this Lord’s pitch, with Tredwell taking 3-35 in eight overs and left-armer Samit Patel bowling tidily as well.

Ian Bell laid the platform as England beat South Africa by six wickets in the fourth NatWest One-Day International at Lord’s on Sunday to seal the number one ranking for the rest of the year.

47th over – Dale Steyn has switched ends but his first ball from the Pavilion End is a nothing delivery, short outside off, and Craig Kieswetter stands tall and swats it through midwicket for four. A wide bouncer and a top-edged four over the wicketkeeper follow, before Kieswetter ends the match in style with a magnificent straight drive for six.

46th over – Ryan McLaren drags a slower ball halfway down the pitch and Eoin Morgan pulls it fine for four. Three balls later, Morgan swats the seamer over mid-on for a one-bounce four and then hooks the last ball of the over, a bouncer, fine for four.

45th over – Wayne Parnell allows Kieswetter to free his arms and he drives majestically through the covers for four.

44th over – WICKET – Bell advances down the pitch at Steyn, who bangs the ball in short. There is good bounce and Bell can only edge his slash at the ball, wicketkeeper AB de Villiers leaping to take a one-handed catch. Bell’s 88 off 137 balls, with eight fours and a six, was a great innings though and should have done enough to win the game for England.

42nd over – Too short from Robin Peterson and Morgan pulls with tremendous power and timing for four.

38th over – Super batting by Morgan as he skips down the pitch and clips McLaren straight down the ground for four.

36th over – WICKET – Ravi Bopara fails again, pushing at a delivery outside off stump from McLaren and sending a low edge to wicketkeeper De Villiers. Bopara is out for six.

35th over – Steyn returns but can only bowl one delivery before a 16-minute rain delay. His second ball after the resumption of play is short and outside off stump and Bopara pulls it to mid-on, where it bounces just before Lonwabo Tsotsobe and zips past him off the wet grass for four runs.

33rd over – Tsotsobe produces a horrible long-hop down the leg side which Bell flicks away disdainfully for four runs.

32nd over – WICKET – Trott tries to sweep left-arm spinner Dean Elgar but the delivery is too full and is struck low on the front pad. Umpire Simon Taufel turns down the lbw appeal, but South Africa call for a review and it shows it’s plumb! Trott goes for a gutsy 48 off 77 balls – most of the innings played with one hand because of the fierce blow he received from Steyn.

31st over – Dropped! Bell, on 65, mistimes a lofted drive at a Tsotsobe slower ball but Peterson at deep mid-on misjudges the catch, is leaping and drops the ball! The next ball is short and Bell hammers a pull through midwicket for four.

29th over – Tsotsobe is back and Bell is down the pitch again and a lovely lofted straight drive brings him four more runs.

25th over – Steyn returns as South Africa desperately need a breakthrough. But their only slip is at about third slip and Bell half-steers/half-edges the ball in the gap between the wicketkeeper and slip for another boundary!

23rd over – The hundred is up off 134 balls as Trott steps outside off stump and flicks McLaren high over midwicket for four.

20th over – A magnificent stroke by Bell as he comes down the pitch and drives Peterson elegantly over extra cover for six.

19th over – Bell hops down the pitch, Parnell drops the ball shorter and is slapped over cover for four.

17th over – Too full and wide from Parnell and Bell drives sumptiously through extra cover for four.

10th over – Bell now comes down the wicket and pulls McLaren powerfully through wide mid-on for four.

9th over – Another commanding stroke by Trott as he comes down the pitch to Tsotsobe and cuts him imperiously over point for four.

8th over – Another wonderful shot by Trott as McLaren angles a delivery into him and he drives it sweetly through midwicket for four.

3rd over – Trott is off the mark in wonderful fashion as he steps forward confidently and square-drives Steyn on the up through point for four.

1st over – WICKET – Steyn ends a fine first over with a vital breakthrough. Alastair Cook steps across his stumps and is beaten by a great delivery that swings back into the left-hander, trapping him lbw for two.

South Africa innings

It was hardly a batting feast for South Africa as they struggled to 220 for eight against England in the fourth NatWest One-Day International at Lord’s in London on Sunday.

49th over – WICKET – Dean Elgar’s struggle is over as he gloves a hook at a slower-ball bouncer from Jade Dernbach and is caught behind by Craig Kieswetter for 35 off 59 balls, with just a single boundary.

48th over – Super batting by Robin Peterson as he picks up Dernbach’s slower ball and heaves it to cow-corner for a one-bounce four. The left-hander then scoops the next delivery over the wicketkeeper for another boundary.

47th over – Mid-on is up and Elgar’s lofted drive off Jimmy Anderson goes past him and runs away for four.

46th over – Attaboy Peterson! The left-hander pulls off two meaty reverse-sweeps for four and six off James Tredwell!

44th over – WICKET – Tredwell strikes again with another lovely piece of bowling. Wayne Parnell (5) steps out of his crease to try and a drive well-flighted delivery, but there is sharp turn away from the left-hander and Kieswetter completes another good stumping.

41st over – Off-spinner Tredwell returns but AB de Villiers greets him with an excellent reverse-paddle fine for four. WICKET – But three balls later, De Villiers comes down the pitch and tries to drive the ball inside-out over the covers. The delivery goes straight on, however, and Kieswetter pulls off a sharp stumping. De Villiers was going well on 39 off 46 balls, but has fatally underestimated Tredwell again.

29th over – WICKET – An awful shot by Faf du Plessis as he tries to run an in-swinger from Ravi Bopara, coming down the slope from the Pavilion End, to third man and only succeeds in dragging the ball back on to his stumps to be bowled for a single.

27th over – Bopara over-pitches and De Villiers drives him beautifully straight down the ground for four.

26th over – WICKET – JP Duminy has looked so good but again he’s thrown his wicket away at a crucial time! Duminy comes down the wicket to Tredwell, but the off-spinner has held the ball back a touch, the batsman is nowhere near the pitch and a bit of turn takes the ball past his attempt to push the ball on the leg side. Duminy is stumped by Craig Kieswetter for 18 off 22 balls.

25th over – WICKET – Hashim Amla is bowled as he misses a drive at a lovely little in-swinger from medium-pacer Bopara. Amla scored 45 off 73 balls, with only glimpses of his free-scoring best.

24th over – Amla missed out on the slog-sweep the ball before, but this time he hits it in the screws to collect four runs through square-leg off Tredwell.

22nd over – A beautiful shot by Duminy as he drives Dernbach through mid-on with wonderful timing for four.

21st over – Duminy squirts a drive off Anderson just past the diving Eoin Morgan at point and away for four runs.

20th over – WICKET – Dernbach surprises Smith with a quicker short delivery, the batsman edging an attempted hook through to wicketkeeper Kieswetter as he tried to play the ball above his shoulders and was late on the shot. Smith fought hard for his 29 off 54 balls.

18th over – Wow, what a shot by Amla as he drives pace bowler Dernbach straight over mid-off for a superb six!

17th over – Another dropped catch! Smith, on 26, drives hard at Steven Finn and gets the edge. But wicketkeeper Kieswetter dives across but misses the ball, putting off first slip Tredwell, who drops the catch again!

11th over – Another reprieve for Amla as Bopara jags a delivery back into the batsman, who is stuck in his crease and struck low on the pads. But umpire Richard Illingworth rules not out and Amla survives on 14. Hawkeye shows the ball would have hit the middle of leg stump, but England have already used up their review!

9th over – And now England have used their review as Amla misses a whip to leg off a Finn in-swinger and is struck in line with leg stump. But umpire Illingworth turns down the lbw appeal because, with the angle and Finn’s bounce, the ball is surely going over and past leg-stump. The review confirms this.

7th over – Finn drops short and Amla crunches a pull through midwicket for four.

5th over – A big let-off for South Africa as Amla, on four, drives off the back foot against Finn and the edge flies high, at an awkward height to Tredwell at second slip, who puts down the chance.

2nd over – And Amla also gets off the mark with a boundary, a beautifully controlled punch through extra cover off Anderson. It was actually a decent delivery with a bit of away movement.

1st over – A good start for South Africa as Finn’s second delivery, from over the wicket, is full, heading outside off stump and Smith plays it on length with a trademark clip through midwicket for a well-struck boundary.

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Eoin Morgan and Jade Dernbach were the people who hurt South Africa the most as England beat them by four wickets with two overs to spare in the third NatWest One-Day International at the Oval on Friday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120831/Morgan_Dernbach_hurt_SA_the_most

Dernbach claimed three big wickets in an under-par South African batting performance that saw the tourists bowled out for 211 inside 47 overs, while Morgan blazed 73 off 67 balls after England had been under some pressure in the run-chase.

Having bowled and fielded so well, the response from England’s top-order batsmen was underwhelming as they struggled to 64 for three after 18 overs.

Ian Bell promises so much at the top of the order with his clean strokeplay and he collected three boundaries in the second over of the innings, bowled by Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

But the extra pace of Dale Steyn proved a different matter and Bell was trapped lbw in the third over for 12.

The departure of the quick-scoring Bell was obviously a major early boost for South Africa and the superb work of the back-up pacemen – Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell – as well as spinner Robin Peterson ensured that the more obdurate qualities of Alastair Cook (20 off 47 balls) and Trott were the ones that shone through.

Cook, pulling a Peterson short ball straight to deep midwicket, and Ravi Bopara, given out caught behind off Morne Morkel for a duck, were both unhappy with their dismissals but Morgan then came in and took charge with an innings of enormous authority.

Whatever stroke he played, whether orthodox or innovative, he committed to it fully. The left-hander purred along to his half-century off just 54 balls, with five fours and a six.

The jury may still be out on Trott as a limited-overs player, but the truth is that his was a vital innings in the circumstances for England.

The South African-born batsman committed himself to being the sheet-anchor, turning over the strike for Morgan to make merry.

At one stage South Africa had a sniff, but after Morgan and Trott had added 108 off 119 balls, England were firmly in control.

Morgan hits the ball so cleanly, collecting seven fours and two sixes in his innings, that it was a major surprise when the ball skewed straight upwards from an attempted sweep, presenting Peterson with an easy return catch. It’s perhaps worth reminding Peterson of how Herschelle Gibbs cost South Africa dearly at the 1999 World Cup by celebrating a catch too early, because the left-arm spinner lost the ball before throwing it up, but fortunately the umpires ruled he had completed the catch.

South Africa were still fighting hard and Craig Kieswetter was run out for 14 as he responded slowly to a quick single called by Trott and was beaten by Parnell’s fine piece of fielding.

Trott fell just five runs from victory when Parnell had him caught behind off 71 off 125 balls, with just two fours, but allegations that he had not served his team superbly were well wide of the mark.

South Africa’s bowling – Tsotsobe apart – was impressive.

Morkel barged in with typical aggression and showed good control as he took one for 41 in his 10 overs, while Parnell was excellent despite not swinging the ball back into the batsman, finishing with one for 23 in 10 overs.

Peterson also did his best to bowl South Africa back into the game, taking two for 39, while Steyn, having missed the first two ODIs with a neck injury, did not fully hit his stride and took one for 32 in seven overs.

Tsotsobe was the major disappointment. The slow pitch, which gripped, should have suited the pace at which he bowls as well as the cutters he is normally so good at bowling. But the left-arm seamer was flogged for 55 runs in seven overs.

England’s bowlers had earlier pressured and frustrated the South African batsmen, leading to rash strokes.

Pacemen Dernbach (9-0-44-3) and Jimmy Anderson (9.4-0-44-4) led the way for England but, on a slow pitch, medium-pacer Bopara (10-1-31-1) and off-spinner James Tredwell (10-0-49-2) also played key roles as South Africa were bowled out in 46.4 overs.

South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat, and openers Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith breezed to 50 off 51 balls before the tourists’ momentum was arrested by a rash stroke by Smith.

Looking to impose himself (unnecessarily with things going so well), Smith came down the pitch to Anderson and then, when the bowler pitched short, he was forced to try and pull the ball, missed and was bowled for 18.

Amla once again played some superb strokes, although he did not always get reward for them as he picked out the fielders, going to a nifty 43 off 51 balls and collecting five fours before Dernbach, born in Johannesburg and educated at St John’s, removed him with the first ball of his second spell as he returned for the bowling powerplay.

Amla drove loosely and did not move his feet at a delivery that nipped back and found the inside-edge and then went on to the stumps.

Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers then added 47 for the third wicket in nine overs before the South African captain tried to get too clever.

Tredwell is not the most threatening off-spinner on the planet and the plan had obviously been hatched to target the inexperienced Kent man. Between them, De Villiers and Elgar came down the pitch three times in his previous over, which cost 13 runs.

De Villiers was down the wicket again to the second delivery of Tredwell’s next over, but this time it was a straighter delivery, he was not quite to the pitch, but he went through with the shot and was caught at long-on for 28.

For such a quality batsman, never mind the captain, it was shoddy batting and a gift of a wicket to England.

Faf du Plessis (1) then stepped across outside off stump to expose his leg stump and was bowled by Bopara as South Africa crashed to 122 for four.

Elgar continued to soldier on, his 42 off 61 balls showing the fighting qualities of the left-hander, before the wonderful skills of Dernbach claimed his wicket.

The change of pace and the accuracy of Dernbach’s back-of-the-hand slower ball are remarkable and Elgar was left groping as he was bowled through the gate in the 31st over.

With Dale Steyn returning in place of all-rounder Ryan McLaren, South Africa’s batting had obviously been weakened and the new number one-ranked team were grateful for the grit of the left-handers, JP Duminy and Robin Peterson, that at least assured they had something to bowl at.

Dernbach found the edge of Parnell’s bat twice, conceding three boundaries in the 33rd over, before the left-hander edged another ball that seamed across him to the wicketkeeper.

Duminy and Peterson put on 40 for the seventh wicket before Duminy also tried to lay down the law to Tredwell and holed out to long-off. In a way, his dismissal was even more frustrating because he had shown such good composure in scoring 33 before throwing it all away in the 42nd over.

Even though Peterson survived through to the end of the innings, he could only collect one boundary and score 23 not out off 35 balls.

Anderson was the most successful of the England attack, bowling Dale Steyn (1) and Morne Morkel (7), before trapping Lonwabo Tsotsobe lbw for a first-ball duck, but at that stage the damage had already been done.

This was mainly due to Dernbach’s wonderful bowling in the middle of the innings, while Bopara and Tredwell also proved far trickier to hit than the South Africans had perhaps thought.