England beat SA after Stokes ton

SOUTHAMPTON: Seamer Mark Wood bowled a sensational last over for England to beat topranked South Africa by two runs and win their one-day international series on Saturday.

David Miller and Chris Morris batted South Africa down to needing 10 runs off the last 10 balls for victory. But mediumpacer Jake Ball conceded only three runs off his last four deliveries, and Wood gave up only four singles in a tense last over.

South Africa finished at 328-5 after England made 330-6. Wood (and Ball) went wicketless, but gave up 48 runs in his 10 overs.

Miller was unbeaten on 71 and Morris on 36 as South Africa failed to take a winning chance for a second straight ODI. England won the series with a match to spare. The third and last ODI is on Monday at Lord’s. Quinton de Kock (98) and AB de Villiers (52) launched South Africa’s reply.

Earlier Ben Stokes made South Africa pay for dropping him twice in his first two balls with a century that powered England to 330/6 in the second ODI . There had been some doubt over whether Stokes would play Saturday after briefly leaving the field with left knee trouble during England’s 72-run win at Headingley on Wednesday.

His 79-ball innings, just his second century in 55 matches at this level, featured 11 fours and three sixes. Stokes shared stands of 95 with skipper Eoin Morgan and 77 with Jos Buttler. After Stokes fell, wicket-keeper/batsman Buttler kept up the attack with a typically dashing 65 not out as England looked to go 2-0 up with one to play in this three-match series.

South Africa dropped six catches during a sloppy fielding display, with left-arm spinner Keshav Mahraj three times denied a wicket in his debut at this level.

SA had an early success when Jason Roy (eight), was bowled trying to whip a Kagiso Rabada yorker legside. Alex Hales, dropped on 18 when a six off Maharaj went straight through Rabada’s hands at long-on, was still on 24 when well caught by de Kock, standing up to the stumps.