BEN’S BLINDER!
Stunning Stokes catch caps great start for England
BEN STOKES enjoyed a ‘full day out’ as england got their World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 104-run demolition of South Africa.
Stokes pulled off an early contender for catch of the tournament, a one-handed stunner at deep midwicket to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo
and later admitted he was briefly cursing himself, fearing he had come in too far from the boundary ropes. Stokes also hit a crucial 89 in England’s total of 311 for eight, ran out Dwaine Pretorius from the boundary, and finished off South Africa’s innings for 207 with two wickets in two balls. The player of the match award was a gimme. Asked about the moment he thought he had misjudged the catch, Stokes replied: ‘I probably said, “Oh s***” about five times. But the crowd’s reaction behind me was pretty awesome — I just tried to take that in as much as I could. ‘I bowled the next over, and Morgs (Eoin Morgan) had to ask if everything was all right, if my heart rate had gone down — things like that catch do get you fizzed up. The crowd today were phenomenal, which is the best thing about having a home World Cup.’ Morgan, one of four half-centurions in the England innings, was effusive about his all-rounder, who had endured a quiet build-up to the six-week tournament. ‘He ran in, stopped, and I thought it was way over his head,’ said the England captain. ‘I’ve only seen a catch like that by AB de Villiers with Royal Challengers Bangalore. I don’t know how to describe it. It was unbelievable. ‘He’s had a full day out, and when he does, it’s extremely entertaining. It’s great for the game. We see him do it in training all the time and you just shake your head at it. ‘His all-round game was on, and that’s great for us at the start of the tournament. It shows he’s right on top of his form.’ The South Africans, who had threatened to make life uncomfortable for England when Quinton de Kock took them to 129 for two, were scarcely less complimentary. ‘He’s a three-in-one cricketer, Stokesy,’ said their captain Faf du Plessis. ‘It’s why England are such a good team: they have a lot of all-rounders who play a part. That’s their strength. They bat so long. ‘The catch was brilliant. It’s as good as it gets. I appreciate the skill that goes into that. I’ve played with him before, and I know he practises his fielding hard. It’s no fluke when it comes to taking a catch like that.’ Jofra Archer took three for 27 to introduce himself as a formidable World Cup weapon in England’s attack as they prepare to face Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Monday. Archer struck Hashim Amla on the helmet, forcing him to retire hurt for checks. Archer posted on Instagram: ‘Amazing day today with the fellas, a long way to go but what a way to start.’
WE ALREADY KNEW IT, BUT HE’LL BE A STAR
JoFRA ARCHeR rattled South Africa by forcing their batting linchpin Hashim Amla off the field with an early blow to the helmet, then did Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis for pace. He returned later to get Rassie van der Dussen, flapping a pull to mid-on. Du Plessis later spoke of Archer’s well- disguised quicker bouncer, which he sends down after a couple of deliveries at 80 per cent effort.
ENGLAND ARE NOT A ONE-TRICK PONY
AFteR the second-ball loss of Jonny Bairstow, they adjusted skilfully to a pitch that wasn’t as pristine as those they kept scoring 350 on against Pakistan. Ben Stokes was especially impressive, playing himself in with 16 from his first 25 balls then accelerating to 50 in 45 — the quickest of his team’s four half-centuries. It said everything about england’s last four years that 311 for eight seemed below par, but it was actually a good effort in the circumstances. Some have wondered if they are as effective batting first as chasing. this was a very good retort.
ROY CAN BE A STAR OF THIS WORLD CUP
SInCe returning from a back spasm, Jason Roy has allayed fears he needs time in the middle to be at his best, scoring 87, 76 and 114 against Pakistan, 32 and 89 not out in the warm-ups against Australia and Afghanistan, and now 54 off 53 balls against South Africa. the only disappointment was that he did not properly cash in on his form, miscuing Andile Phehlukwayo to mid-off. expect more as the tournament progresses.
MOEEN ALI’S BATTING IS BECOMING A CONCERN
HIS contribution here was all too typical: three off nine balls and too many fresh-air shots. His oDI batting average is now just 25.66 — far too low for a player of his calibre. He is in danger of losing touch with england’s powerful top six.
MORGAN’S SIDE LOOK SHARP IN THE FIELD
RoY set the tone with a superb stop at backward point in Archer’s first over, before Stokes ran out Dwaine Pretorius from the deep. Stokes then brought the house down with his onehanded miracle on the midwicket boundary to catch Phehlukwayo. the only blip came when Jos Buttler spilled Van der Dussen off Ali — one of a few errors that have crept into his glovework.
ADIL’S SHOULDERING THE BURDEN WELL
ADIL RASHID is struggling with a sore shoulder, but his ability to turn it both ways remains a central cog in england’s one-day wheel. He took only one wicket here, thanks to Stokes’ wonder catch, but his eight overs went for just 37, and his googly was as effective as ever.
NOT ALL PITCHES WILL HAVE BIG SCORES
not all the pitches in this tournament will be conducive to the scores of 350 or more that england have routinely made over the past few years — let alone the 500 they have been dreaming of in the build-up to the World Cup. the ICC are in charge of pitch preparation, unlike in england’s home games in bilateral series, when the home groundsmen — under the umbrella of the eCB — have the final say.
ARE THE ‘ZING’ BAILS HARDER TO DISLODGE?
RASHID thought he had bowled Quinton de kock on 25 when the left- hander’s off stump lit up — only for the bail to stay on. there were similar instances in the recent IPL. the potential for confusion with run- out appeals is all too obvious.