England show fight to turn heads once again

England's hopes of winning the Cricket World Cup for the first time seemed bleak to say the least after a shocking defeat to Ireland. However, a magnificent show of character put the hopes of the nation and players back on track with a sensational victory over hotly fancied South Africa. 

Peterson ripped though England
early on

Andrew Strauss' men realised before the game that this was a must win after defeat to the Irish, but with South Africa in excellent form going into this one, victory seemed unlikely. England's chances became even more unlikely after the worst possible start with Strauss and Kevin Pietersen falling in the very first over to left-arm spinner Robbie Peterson. Soon after, Ian Bell fell poorly to that man Peterson, leaving England reeling on 15-3. That brought the steady Jonathan Trott and the recently out of favour Ravi Bopara to the crease, with England in need of a big partnership.

Trott was cool as ever

They both started off slowly, with the instinctively attacking Bopara realising the situation and ensuring he didn't do anything stupid. Trott looked composed, and he was vital to England's chances of getting any sort of a score. The partnership started to progress, and both players were beginning to score runs more freely. However, South Africa captain Graeme Smith may be to blame for this. After starting with spin in the form of Peterson, which had England on the racks, he decided to turn to pace, ignoring the fact that England were not coping with the spin on a typically spinning Indian wicket. This may have been the turning point in the innings, as both Trott and Bopara were able to get  themselves in and acclimatise themselves with the situation and start to build a partnership, using the pace bowlers to score runs off.



Bopara proved key for England

 The partnership got to 99 with England recovering excellently on 114-3. However, South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir provided the vital break though with Trott smashing the ball back at Tahir who took an excellent catch off his own bowling to dismiss Trott for 52. This proved to be the catalyst for England's collapse. Matt Prior and then the excellent Ravi Bopara were both dismissed soon after with Prior only making 10 and Bopara a well played 60. England were now back in the mire on 148-5, but 200 still looked realistic, and on a pitch like this, it looked defend able.

Tahir started England's collapse

However, the tail was not able to wag for England and it fell away with out a trace as England were all out for a poor 171. For once in this tournament, England's batting was looking frail, when before it had been their strong point. This time, it was all down to the bowlers, who had been letting the side down in the previous 3 matches in the tournament, but the pitch looked to give the bowlers something, but could England pull of a miraculous victory?

Amla gave SA the perfect start

This did not look possible as South Africa were cruising on 63-0 with captain Smith and Hashim Amla providing the Proteas with the perfect start to their run chase. However, typically it was Graeme Swann who provided England with the belief that they can win this game, as he dismissed Smith, caught behind, for 22. This started a mini collapse with Amla and Kallis falling leaving South Africa 82-3, game on.

England began to make inroads

A recovery was needed for South Africa to put them back in the ascendancy, with the in form AB De Villiers (2 hundreds already in the World Cup) and Francois Du Plessis now at the crease. This seemed to materialise for South Africa with the score now increased to 124-3 and a South African victory looked assured. Although, this is England and nothing is black and white, especially in the World Cup so far and how right that proved to be.

James Anderson, who has been disappointing in the tournament so far, provided the vital break though, as he bowled the key man, De Villiers, for 25, Du Plessis was run out brilliantly by Ian Bell for 17 and JP Duminy bowled again magnificently by Anderson for a duck, the game was tipped on its head with the score now 124-6, England were in the driving seat all of a sudden. Robbie Peterson, the scourge of England at the start of the game, also fell cheaply leaving South Africa 127-7 and England were on a roll.

Morne van Wyk and Dale Steyn now had the huge task of trying to re-build the innings with victory looking unlikely, South Africa only need just over 3 runs an over, but the momentum was now with England.



South Africa contributed to
 their own downfall



Steyn and van Wyk were beginning to sift the momentum with a partnership now worth 33 with the score at 160-7 and only 12 runs to win with plenty of overs to spare. However, it was Tim Bresnan, brought back into the attack, who broke the resistance, bowling van Wyk who played onto his own stumps for a patient 13, 160-8. Dale Steyn was now the key wicket for England as he was now into his 20's and capable of scoring the remanding runs in a short time.

 


Broad was the man of the moment
finishing off the tail dramatically


Stuart Broad, England's key wicket taker in One-day cricket, was the man who provided the moment of magic, with an excellent delivery which rattled into Steyn's pads, directly in front of the stumps and was given out LBW for 20. In came last man Imran Tahir with the score on 164-9 and 8 runs still required. It was that man Broad who didn't waste any time in finishing off South Africa as Morne Morkel went after a wide delivery and edged to Matt Prior and England bowled out South Africa for 165 and won by just 6 runs.



England players celebrate
a fantastic result

England had pulled of one of the most miraculous victories in the World Cup so far. Considering the up and down form of the side and after the incredible defeat to Ireland, to defend 171 against such a talented side deserves huge credit, and Andrew Strauss' side look more like the team we have come accustomed to over the last year or so. Ravi Bopara was rightly named man of the match for his vital 60 which gave England hope of defending their score. England's World Cup chances have taken a turn for the good.