As South Africa found momentum England tumbled badly

South Africa pull off a win in the final ODI with rewriting history with their first ever win at the home of Cricket and that will boost their confidence high ahead of Champions Trophy that they desperately needed with their performance not reflecting their true potential so far in this series.

But England couldn't have wanted nor expected a bizarre Collapse from their top and middle order to be back in the pavilion at the end of 5th over at 20 for 6. It all caused due to a little bit movement of the pitch due to overcast conditions and the England batsman aren't  in a mood to assess the conditions as they looked to wrap up another 300+ score on the board.

Roy once again failed to capitalize the opportunity ahead of Champions Trophy with his slump form found thrice by Rabada in this Series, while Parnell who was rested in the previous game surprised with his inward movement to decisive Root’s wrists. And the wickets tumbled with Rabada bowled it full and English Batsman found outside edges with driving the ball.

With 20 for 6, Jonny Bairstow showed temperament that his fellow batsmen lacked in the innings as to negotiate the early movement and thereafter latched on to any room on offer on either side of the wicket as he along with Willey posted a 50+ partnership. Although the left arm swing bowler went soon afterward with picking the short cover for perfection.

In a tough and unhealthy Conditions, the debutant Jones showed some sort of hope and character to take England past 150 alongside half Centurion Bairstow. But the demon's returned when Bairstow skipped down the track to Maharaj and that made to wrap up the England Innings to 153 soon after with 18.3 overs still to play for.

It wasn't the score England would want to defend nor South Africa liked to chase to test them out for the final time and it all started off well for Proteas with England seamers couldn't find the corridor of uncertainty nor the slightest of the movement. But there was bits and pieces that haven't troubled the Protea batsman.

Amla cracked up yet another half century, later England pacers scalped both Dekock and Amla inscape of 4 delivers with a bit of luck in their favor. But troubled the batsman followed afterward with finding enough movement and they would have felt with some more runs on the board it would have been a tight contest with Proteas hasn't had many to chase.

South Africa fell short by 2 runs as England capitalised with bat to clinch the series

England clinched the Series 2-0 in a thrilling fashion by 2 runs with an ODI still to play as Mark Wood held his nerve to defend 6 runs of the final over of the innings, despite with two set batsman at the crease hitting hard prior to the final over.

For the most part of the chase, South Africa looked in control even with the departure of Amla and Duplessis after their start to the innings but Dekock and De Villiers sailed the ship through middle overs and it seemed all too easy when coming to required rate.

Dekock 98 featured many swings and misses to the short of the length deliveries but that didn't stop him playing his natural game and fell short of a maiden hundred in England soon after De Villiers found clipping his glove to Butler in trying to avoid a short ball which followed him from Lian Plunkett.

Miller and Behardien looked rusty through later part of the chase as run rate started to creep up 11& 12 an Over and the wicket of Behardien came as timely one for South Africa as Chris Morris powered boundaries around the ground alongside Miller who seemed to came into his own as he gained momentum despite the slow start with a much needed fifty.

At this stage, things started to fall in place for South Africa as boundaries came with ease and the penultimate over almost cost the match for England as Jake Ball conceded 13 runs with only 6 runs in the bag for Wood. If Proteas struggled to a bowler in the innings that has to be Wood with his extra pace and he was right up in the blockhole and with short balls, one off them eventually gone in his favor as the umpire hasn't signaled a wide of the penultimate ball.

While the England Innings seemed the same way as the first ODI as Roy cleaned up early by Rabada with his extra pace with that early breakthrough Root and Hales nudged the ball all round to a cautious approach and at the end of powerplay both got their eye in the middle.

And with trying to attack Pretorius from the start of the innings Hales tried to cut a short of a length ball and in trying so only found Dekock standing up to the stumps as extra bounce surprised him off late. While the in came Captain in-form used his feet to Pretorius as they targeted him as the weak link in the attack.

But Root got out in an unlucky fashion as he found not backing off enough at the non-striker's end when Morgan driving the ball starlight. At this stage, South Africa was in total control of the match with 3/80 in the 16th over of the match and Stokes could have been out without facing a ball if the fielder at covers had hit the stumps.

The over later from Maharaj was a peach one to face for Stokes as he edged the consecutive balls one through Anla at first slip and to Dekock which was a tough one but should have been taken and it turned out to be the turning point for England in settling the total as they liked and Proteas found nowhere near their standards in the field as Amla once again dropped Stokes at  deep square leg later in the innings.

With anything, they touching to be edging all over the place the pair were tried to play of the overs but punished the medium pacers when they needed to. But when Devillers thought the things falling off his hands he brought on his main man and Rabada hasn't disappointed his captain with picking the opposition Captain.

But that wicket didn't bother anything to Stokes has he unleashed his arms to swing them downtown and brought up his second century of his Career and Butler who played the second fiddle through the partnership of Stokes accelerated in no time to brought up his fifty. At the end, he along with Moeen scored 78 in last 6.4 overs to take England to 330.

As Ageas Bowl turns up for run-fest Proteas seek to make their presence felt

It seems England continuing their new found formula in ODI Cricket with scoring big runs and putting oppositions under pressure to chase down those totals. The new opposition is Proteas who are currently under pressure with coming favorites tag on their back into the Series.

The no.1 ranked team hasn't been able to replicate those numbers found in ICC rankings as their batsman found fielders for perfection most of the times in the chase where they had a solid start and it was also replicated in their sloppy bowling with added uncharacteristic fielding at times in Headingley.

England, on the other hand, managed to live up to the expectations that they formed around the world from past two years and their captain's form peaking at the peak time is a great news for the fellow Players. Although they would know the Protea Fire burns back at Ageas Bowl to stay alive in the Series.

Other than Morgan's form it's their bowling which usually won't perceived as a strong asset made a mark with picking wickets at regular intervals in Proteas chase, it certainly showed the presence of extra paceman Markwood with added regulars Woakes and Plunkett.

While it's an early call for Proteas to be right up on their mark considering the defeat in the first ODI and that would sum up the depth England possess. Apart from what it has been the preparations for Champions Trophy the little series seems to more than that as Proteas need a win to stay alive at Ageas Bowl on Saturday and contest gonna be intensified with that.

Pitch

            The pitch at Ageas Bowl has been a run-fest over the span of last four years as it hasn't seen a less than 300 total in last 7 games played over there and on Saturday it won't surprise anyone.

England Playing XI

         

                  England won't consider altering the squad that started of well although they have few questions to be answered at this stage it seems they go with the same squad unless there is a fitness concern.

Jason Roy,  Alex Hales,  Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt),  Ben Stokes,  Jos Buttler,  Moeen Ali,  Chris Woakes,  Adil Rashid,  Liam Plunkett  Mark Wood.

South Africa XI

                  The Proteas may not consider altering the combination as well if they do that, would be bringing in Morkel but that stands against his mediocre performances after the return from injury

.

Quinton de Kock (wk),  Hashim Amla,  Faf du Plessis,  AB de Villiers (capt),  JP Duminy,  David Miller,  Wayne Parnell,  Chris Morris,  Kagiso Rabada,  Andile Phehlukwayo/Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

At the end given the surface at Ageas Bowl, it will be a run fest but the bowling that restricts the batsman will eventually be victories.

Batting Challenge awaits into the final at two paced Chinnaswamy

Mumbai Indians would be kicking themselves up to what happened in Qualifier 1 at their own backyard but will thank the playoffs schedule that they can have a crack at their rivals Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier 2 on Friday at Chinnaswamy which turned on its head when comes to scoring runs in this season.

A collective bowling performance is what helped Knight Riders against Hyderabad in the eliminator otherwise they may have packed their bags out of tournament with the way they batted in the rain altered match, where their captain stood to take them into the next game after their early scare.

But it seems the problem is not ended with the intent Batsman showing up to finish it early as it costed them some games thus far and injury to Manish Pandey meant he is out of the remaining matches only to make the batting order even thinner. So the  lites Lynn, Gambhir and Uthappa is where their runs hold up.

While Mumbai batting never kicked off well except couple of occasions it has been one or two man shows to go over the line and on too paced track's they struggled for sure even in their home ground.But Mumbai have the bowling to compensate that which has lost the plot in the final 3 overs against RPS with Dhoni special.

Meanwhile the 22yard at Chinnaswamy surprised everyone even their home team and it is what gonna have it's say nevertheless both teams look they have the bowling to take advantage of the conditions, but it is what the batting performance that matter to come on top on a two paced slow surface on Friday in Qualifier 2.

Simple equatuon but changes the fortune's of many teams on last day of league phase

Don't know how the day's gone through IPL till date but we enter into the final day of the league phase on Sunday with Rising Pune Supergiant takes on Kings XI Punjab in a Knockout contest to continue their campaign in the tournament.

While at the start of the tournament not many would have thought this match would have that importance as it has now in the tournament or both teams would reach this far with the campaign they ended in the previous season but pushing all those opinions and Stakes aside they are nowhere for a contest that would alter the positions in the points table.

Both teams had their ups and downs through the tournament with Pune losing quite a lot at the start and Punjab though started off well with ticking all the boxes but when it reached the middle phase the table as turned around as Punjab lost quite a lot and found in a position to face Knockouts.

Meanwhile, Pune found the much-needed combination they struggled to find during the earlier and the at the start of this season too. But when they found it they made the most use of it with winning in a row but they lost a match to Delhi in a tight contest a result of that made them face the Knockout encounter on Sunday.

One thing that helps Pune is playing at home where they won most of the matches this season and hope they show their experience in the pressure game against the touch low experienced Punjab side. While Punjab would believe to continue the Momentum they are going through right now from past 3-4 matches which they played as pure Knockouts to stay in the tournament and it will be an another one against Pune but it's also the same for the hosts.