BOK AND STROLL

World champs made to look like chumps by De Kock masterclass

IT was back down to earth with a bump for England as South Africa thrashed the world champions at Newlands.

In their first 50-overs outing since the impossible drama of Lord’s last July secured the World Cup, England looked rusty and jaded.

Put in by Quinton de Kock, they laboured to a below-par 258-8 and had no answers as the hosts knocked the runs off comfortably to win by seven wickets with 14 balls to spare.

Yes, it was a first competitive outing in blue for more than six months and without half-a-dozen of the stars who dragged them over the line in July.

There was no Ben Stokes, no Jos Buttler, no express pace – with Jofra Archer injured and Mark Wood rested – and no Adil Rashid.

They lacked combativeness in a performance ill-befitting their status as top dogs and which needs to be addressed before Durban on Friday.

On a two-paced pitch – something De Kock realised at the toss – Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow struggled to get off to their usual flier.

Both were undone by poor timing and when Joe Root ran himself out – a direct hit from Rassie van der Dussen beating his hasty retreat at the non-striker’s end – and Eoin Morgan edged to slip, England were in bother.

Joe Denly came to the rescue with a 103-ball 87, which was not exactly electric. When he tried to accelerate, the right pedal proved difficult to locate.

Yet it is hard to criticise the pace of his innings when wickets kept falling at the other end for all that it paled in comparison to what Stokes or Buttler might have done in the middle.

And it was not Denly’s fault that 258 looked 50 or 60 runs short.

Morgan had talked beforehand about resetting sights on T20 goals towards the end of the year, notably the World T20 in Australia in October, insisting results were less important than progress. It was hard to see much of the latter. Of the new caps, Tom Banton timed a couple nicely, missed a couple in his 18 and was out lbw to fellow ODI debutant Tabraiz Shamsi, one of three wickets for the leftarm leggie.

Another new cap Matt Parkinson struggled initially albeit against the well-set De Kock and Temba Bavuma before coming back stronger later.

Their partnership of 173 – a record for the second wicket against England and here at Newlands – proved the difference.

England face a test of their resolve over selection. If they make changes, it smacks of panic which should ensure the same XI plays in Durban.