England hold their nerve to square one-day series

ENGLAND withstood a middle-order collapse to seal a nervy two-wicket win against South Africa at a raucous Johannesburg as their one-day international series finished all square at 1-1.

The recalled Adil Rashid marked his 100th ODI with 3-51 as South Africa were restricted to 256-7, with captain Quinton de Kock hitting 69 and David Miller finishing unbeaten on 69.

Jonny Bairstow’s rampaging 43 from 23 deliveries allowed those below him to bat at their own tempo and there seemed to be no worries as Joe Denly (66) put on halfcentury stands with Joe Root (49) then Tom Banton (32).

A spectacular wobble inside the suffocating atmosphere of the Bullring saw England lurch from 232-4 to 252-8, but Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 17 led the tourists to victory with 40 balls to spare.

England’s first ODI win since the World Cup final last year ensured they remain unbeaten in a bilateral series in the 50-over format since the start of 2017, as South Africa were left feeling blue on Pink Day.

England, who wore a special pinkinspired kit to mark the occasion dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer, handed an ODI debut to Saqib Mahmood, who curiously only bowled five overs.

However, the Lancashire paceman took 1-17 in an immaculate opening spell alongside Tom Curran as South Africa got off to a ponderous start, never really finding any momentum until Miller’s 53-ball counter-punch.

Rashid proved his value in his first ODI since the World Cup final, by trapping Temba Bavuma lbw, bowling De Kock and later dismissing Andile Phehlukwayo, while fellow spinner Moeen took 1-42 on his return to England duty after claiming the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen.