Mark Wood's superb final over snatches two-run victory for England over South Africa
It was the Battle of Wounded Knee. England won it, by two runs, thanks to a superlative final over by Mark Wood, so the third one-day international at Lord’s on Monday will be a dead-rubber game. But the second will be remembered for Stokes not only scoring a century, his second in ODIs, but also scoring a home goal by playing in the first place and damaging his left knee – not an unforeseeable event – less than a week before the start of the Champions Trophy.
Stokes first twisted it to visible effect when he had scored 91 and gone a long way to rescuing England from another uncertain start, in this case 80 for three. He hit a ball, made to run, stopped and turned quickly to make good his ground – then winced. The applause of a capacity crowd for his hundred and man-of-the-match award may have dulled the pain but he could bowl only three overs and was hobbling by the end of his mini-spell.
Even though he injured himself in the process Stokes at least demonstrated how to seize a match by the scruff. Neither side appeared to be keen on winning it when none of England’s top order went on to a substantial score, and South Africa dropped six catches, five of them in rapid succession (Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock were twice the guilty parties). Stokes showed his Durham teammate Wood how to stamp his will on the occasion, just as he must have stamped his will on the dressing-room by insisting he was fit to play only a couple of days after a scan on the left knee which had been operated on last year.
England’s total of 330 was their 21st above 300 since the 2015 World Cup –no statistic better illustrates their cavalier advance – and a fine total in the conditions. But those conditions changed from thick and thunderous cloud in the morning to warm sunshine when South Africa batted, bringing the target much more within their scope, to the point where they required only seven runs off the last over to level the series at 1-1.
Even more gratifying for England than Stokes’s hundred – and without the undesirable consequences – was Jos Buttler’s 50. Most sensibly, Buttler played himself in with singles, in Stokes’s shadow, before attempting boundaries. They were to come in a flood of four fours in five balls by Andile Phehlukwayo – interrupted only by a wide – and featured both a pull and reverse-pull. Off their last ten overs England scored 99 runs, of which Buttler battered 51. The last over of England’s innings – and a young medium-pacer like Phehlukwayo should not have been given the task – cost 12 runs, whereas Wood’s was to cost four.
So, long before the end of England’s innings, the precariousness of their beginning had been forgotten, like nightmares banished by the daylight of Stokes and Buttler. Yet the precariousness was nonetheless real: England’s top order did wobble, as it so often seems to do, primarily because either Jason Roy or Alex Hales is off colour – and at the moment it is Roy, whose bottom hand is calling the shots.
Hales was dropped at long-on before he cut a ball that was too close to him and well caught by the keeper standing up. But though Root looked a million dollars – so not quite as valuable as Stokes in Indian Premier League terms but nearly as good – he too was dismissed, and England were 80 for three with two new batsmen in, the planks and poles all there but the platform yet to be constructed.
And it could so easily have been 80 for four – and no Chris Woakes, with his level head and sound technique, to come. Accustomed to left-arm spinners turning the ball into him in India, Stokes was disoriented by Keshav Maharaj’s drift and outside-edged his first two balls – the first straight through Amla’s waiting hands at slip, the second a harder chance to De Kock. Maharaj eventually had Stokes caught at long-off, but he could have finished his ODI debut with four for 50. Longer-term, he will be South Africa’s Test spinner later this summer and England will need to get his drift so that Maharaj cannot bowl long spells which allow the tourists’ three seamers to rest and rotate.
South Africa, in reply, were always ahead of England – because England’s start had been precarious. After ten overs, the visitors led by 56 runs to 43, with one wicket apiece. After 30 overs the visitors had 174 for two, and De Kock and AB de Villiers were going faster than any train on a Bank Holiday weekend with engineering works, against the hosts’ 154 for three.
Liam Plunkett dismissed De Villiers with a bouncer that followed the batsman’s gloves. De Kock converts half of his 50s into hundreds, but not on this occasion because Moeen Ali finally got an offbreak to take the lefthander’s outside edge. England had fed De Kock’s proclivity for the legside at the start of his innings: 32 of his runs were scored through midwicket.
After 40 overs South Africa were still ahead, by 238 runs to 219 – and both countries had lost four wickets. David Miller proceeded to take charge with his own Stokes-like hitting, whittling South Africa’s target down to 60 off six overs, 42 off four and 20 off two. When that was reduced to seven off the last, the sun was setting not only on the ground but on England’s hopes of extending their seven-game unbeaten run.
Wood, however, rose to this occasion as Miller and Chris Morris sunk. It was his extra pace, limiting South Africa to four singles, that carried Wood through – two of his bouncers were not even hit – and his desire to be England’s hero after so many injuries had blighted his career. It was Wood’s left ankle which was the grave concern, before Stokes’s left knee.
England win by two runs!
What an incredible last over from Mark Wood - absolutely phenomenal.
The last ball goes for only a single - and England are home.
Superb ODI, that. Wood's final over only went for four runs, two dot balls.
South Africa will be unhappy with that. England win the series and continue their winning ODI run.
49.5
Dot - South Africa unhappy as Wood bowls it into the pitch and through to Buttler. Replays show it wasn't a wide, but just a superb delivery at this stage. Four to win off the last!
49.4
Miller pulls it - nearly hitting the square-leg umpire - but it's only a single!
Four off two needed.
49.3
Hello, hello.
Wood sends a pacey one down - a dot ball!
Five off three. Nervous times for South Africa..
49.2
Another single off Wood as Morris works it into the leg-side.
Five needed off four.
49.1
Miller hits a single down to fine leg. Six needed from five.
49th over South Africa 324-5 (Morris 34, Miller 69) - 7 runs needed
Miller's winning it for South Africa here. First two balls: Six. Four.
That's brought it down to a run a ball.
A single - nine off nine needed. Ball's been hit around today - 81 off 9.4 as it stands.
A leg-bye keeps it at a run-a-ball. Eight off eight. Morgan reviews for LBW - to slow the game down as much as anything - but the ball's going over.
Seven needed off seven.
The final ball is a dot, so seven needed in the final over for South Africa victory.
48th over South Africa 311-5 (Morris 33, Miller 58) - 20 runs needed
Wood on, 0-33 off eight so far. Decent return.
Excellent/risky running brings South Africa a couple - Buttler's throw is wide allowing Miller to scamper home. The second ball brings another single.
Morris top-edges the third ball for four! It was short from Wood and he took it on.
But the bowler comes back strongly, pitching it up and through to Buttler.
His next delivery is even better - another dot with a pacey short ball. Superb stuff from Wood.
Whatever the result, this will be an excellent test for England ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Huge six to finish! Morris clobbers a length ball and South Africa are within touching distance.
47th over South Africa 298-5 (Morris 23, Miller 57) - 33 runs needed
Three singles off the first three balls of Ball's ninth over.
But Morris strikes it down the ground, a length delivery, and it's a four - hitting the rope on the full toss.
He adds another couple with the fifth, before Ball sends a pacey short one down and through to Buttler. Excellent last delivery.
Nine runs off it. South Africa still slight favourites.
46th over South Africa 289-5 (Morris 16, Miller 55) - 42 runs needed
Morris goes for the big-un at cow corner, but it falls short of the ropes - and Stokes.
Then it's Miller's turn, but he can only find Root in a similar fielding position.
But Morris finds that boundary, driving through the covers as Plunkett pitches it up. He's then lucky next ball, skying it into the leg-side but splitting *three* fielders in the deep. Another two.
Then SIX! Huge strike from Morris over cow, right into the crowd. The noise of the bat suggested he'd middled it - and didn't he just.
Big over that. 14 off it.
45th over South Africa 275-5 (Morris 3, Miller 54) - 56 runs needed
Miller's given a single off Wood's first delivery, but Miller can only take a single too.
Wood's dot ball is cheered by the big crowd - every one of those so important now in pursuit of victory.
Miller's shot hits Morris' bat at the other end - no run! Excellent over from Wood, just four runs from it.
44th over South Africa 271-5 (Morris 1, Miller 52) - 60 runs needed
As Nasser Hussain and Bumble are saying on the TV commentary, Behardien's wicket may not be the worst thing for South Africa - he couldn't find a boundary.
Plunkett drops one too short and it's called a wide. Perhaps harshly. But the next ball is definitely a wide. Buttler hits the stumps, but Miller is home.
The visitors are still ahead of where England were with six overs left.
Wicket! Behardien 17 c Ali b Plunkett
Behardien nearly gets his first boundary, but Joe Root's dive on the rope saves a run.
Miller's one short of his 50 - and he gets it in 34 balls with a nudge into the leg side. In the context of this match, that's a phenomenal knock. More needed though.
Breakthrough for England, though, as Behardien holes out. Moeen Ali with the catch.
Another twist! Required run rate at 10.
43rd over South Africa 262-4 (Behardien 14, Miller 49) - 69 runs needed
Moeen Ali, now. Miller clips it for a couple (some fine fielding in the deep from Plunkett).
Six off the over - and not a bad from from the England off-spinner. Pressure back on South Africa.
42nd over South Africa 256-4 (Behardien 12, Miller 45) - 75 runs needed
Jake Ball returns and puts one wide with his second ball.
Miller has played a superb knock here, 40 off 28, at a time when South Africa needed it most.
He helps the ball behind square for another boundary and nudges another single into the covers.
Behardien is nearly bowled by a low-bouncing delivery, but again they remain on track.
41st over South Africa 246-4 (Behardien 9, Miller 39)
Quiet over from Moeen, but South Africa still ahead of England and need 94 to win.
This is going to be close.
Root returns with another quick over. Miller comes back for two as the required runs come down.
He then sweeps Root for four, making it eight off the over.
39th over South Africa 231-4 (Behardien 5, Miller 28)
Miller clobbers Ali for six, an inside-out shot over the ropes that keeps the pressure on England.
But Root, again hurries through another over. Eleven overs left, 100 needed.
37th over South Africa 214-4 (Behardien 1, Miller 15)
Joe Root comes onto bowl, now. Farhaan Behardien comes in to bat.
Root is getting through his over quickly, putting the batsmen under pressure.
Just three off his first - an excellent over.
Wicket! De Kock 98 c Buttler b Ali
The drinks break is over. Moeen Ali, who has been expensive, is back on and David Miller hits him for four.
But then the breakthrough - and it's De Kock! Two shy of his 100. He edges Ali behind and Buttler takes the catch.
England needed that and now have two fresh batsmen to bowl at.
Slowly and by degrees, Plunkett's become England's most important bowler. Awkward bounce, subtle variations, bowls to a plan. https://t.co/x7GmrvIhnm
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) May 27, 2017
35th over South Africa 204-3 (de Kock 97, Miller 7)
Miller edges off Plunkett, but it's just short of Joe Root at first slip. Not by much, mind you, but enough to make it awkward.
Fifteen overs left and we've got a decent finish on the cards here.
34th over South Africa 199-3 (de Kock 96, Miller 3)
That brings David Miller to the crease. Moeen Ali comes back into the attack.
De Kock is closing in on a hundred, but South Africa's hopes of winning here will rely on him you would think.
He plays a quite wonderful shot down the ground for four, clubbing it to the rope. He moves on to 96.
Wicket! De Villiers 52 c Buttler b Plunkett
Plunkett's putting everything into it here in England's bid to find a breakthrough - and he's got it!
AB de Villiers tries to guide the ball down to third man, but instead glances it off his glove to Buttler.
What a moment that is. Huge in the game.
Excellent innings from De Villiers, but that is just what England needed.
Game on!
32nd over South Africa 187-2 (de Kock 88, de Villiers 52)
An interesting debate now over how England find a wicket here - it's a good test ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Plunkett tries but to no avail.
Now it's Ball's turn once more. He drops it short and De Villiers clobbers it for four - now one short of his half-century. He nudges a single to reach that mark off 48 balls. ABV is in ominous form.
Rashid has bowled 77 balls to de Villiers in ODI cricket and has not dismissed him once, conceding 69 runs in that time. #EngvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) May 27, 2017
30th over South Africa 173-2 (de Kock 85, de Villiers 42)
Wood's bowling well, but is struggling to find the breakthrough - both De Kock and De Villiers standing tall against the paceman.
De Villiers clips the ball for another couple down to square leg.
Ball's been expensive so far in this innings. Can he find the breakthrough?
He causes De Kock a bit of trouble as the batsman tries to glance the ball down to third man (it's a little too straight for him to do that).
South Africa in very good shape as we reach 30 overs.
28th over South Africa 167-2 (de Kock 83 de Villiers 38)
De Villiers is finding his groove very nicely here to the delight of South Africa.
Jake Ball, back in the attack, charges in, but ABV takes advantage of a short-of-a-length delivery to send it for four.
England need a wicket - and fast.
27th over South Africa 160-2 (de Kock 82 de Villiers 33)
Rashid rattles through another boundary-less over, but eight off it still.
So Eoin Morgan turns to Mark Wood to try to break this partnership. SA 30 ahead of England at this stage.
Excellent fielding from the skipper in the covers, stopping De Villiers' blistering drive.
And then the South African captain is lucky, inside edging past Buttler to the boundary when it could easily have bowled him.
25th over South Africa 147-2 (de Kock 75 de Villiers 27)
De Villiers strikes Rashid for four in an otherwise quiet over.
De Kock then gets stuck into Moeen Ali's off-spin with two fours, including one up-and-over shot.
That's the 50 partnership at a run-a-ball.
23rd over South Africa 131-2 (de Kock 70 de Villiers 16)
De Kock comes down the wicket to Ali and glances it backward of square for a couple. He uses his feet again to take another single.
Ali is then a little lucky/unfortunate depending on your point of view as his short delivery is pulled by De Villiers just short of the fielder in the deep. It probably deserved to be a six.
22nd over South Africa 126-2 (de Kock 67 de Villiers 14)
England rattling through these overs, now. Rashid a little unlucky to have a wide called against him when nearly bowling De Kock.
Ian Ward saying South Africa are 20 runs ahead of where England were, but that was before the Buttler blitz.
21st over South Africa 119-2 (de Kock 63 de Villiers 12)
Rashid goes for eight before Eoin Morgan turns to Moeen Ali and spin at both ends.
Five runs conceded and little drama. Solid start.
Here's that De Kock record:
19th over South Africa 107-2 (de Kock 59 de Villiers 4)
De Kock is timing the ball superbly and does so again against Plunkett, using the pace to drive through mid-on for four.
He's got an excellent conversion rate from 50 to 100, so England will need to work something out.
18th over South Africa 100-2 (de Kock 52 de Villiers 3)
Hundred up for South Africa and five singles off that Rashid over. They're ticking along very nicely.
17th over South Africa 94-2 (de Kock 49 de Villiers 1)
Excellent over there from Plunkett and a crucial breakthrough.
It's gone a little overcast again but otherwise a perfect day for cricket.
De Kock moves past 50 at a run a ball - now South Africa will want him to kick on.
Wicket! Du Plessis 16 c Buttler b Plunkett
Adil Rashid is on, but he drops his third ball short and Du Plessis does the rest.
But Liam Plunkett gets a wicket with the first ball of the 17th over, Du Plessis nicking it to Buttler behind the stumps for 16.
15th over South Africa 84-1 (de Kock 47 du Plessis 9)
Liam Plunkett charges in, but he is let down by some poor fielding in the deep - Hales the culprit, De Kock the recipient with a four.
He then glances a full ball through mid-wicket for another boundary to get closer to 50.
14th over South Africa 76-1 (de Kock 39 du Plessis 9)
De Kock is playing well and takes a boundary off Stokes, but the England man finishes well before holding his hip.
He's definitely walking around very gingerly. Is this worth the risk for England?
13th over South Africa 69-1 (de Kock 34 du Plessis 9)
Smiles all round as Stokes gets Du Plessis in an uncomfortable area.
Another tidy over from Stokes, there.
Plunkett follows it up with a pacey second over, but Du Plessis drives the ball down to the boundary. Wonderful timing and another four.
South Africa 69-1. England at this stage? 69-1.
11th over South Africa 60-1 (de Kock 32 du Plessis 2)
Here's Liam Plunkett, back on the field and on to bowl a very tidy over.
All eyes on Stokes now to see if how he's looking when bowling. England will want him fit for the start of this week's Champions Trophy.
Wicket! Amla 24 - c Morgan b Stokes
Ben Stokes is on and immediately in the action, so nearly completing a caught and bowled off De Kock.
He gets a hand on a very fast return, but this time it didn't stick.
But he does get Hashim Amla who drives straight to Eoin Morgan close-in in the covers. Just what England needed.
As a footnote, Stokes does look a little uncomfortable amid concerns over his fitness. Will be interesting to see whether he keeps bowling for much longer.
9th over South Africa 53-0 (de Kock 28 Amla 23)
Liam Plunkett is off the field, temporarily, giving Jonny Bairstow a few moments out on the field.
Meanwhile, Mark Wood bowls an excellent over. The final ball zips through at nearly 89mph and through to Buttler.
But this has been a good start for South Africa. The sun is shining and the opportunity is there to level this series.
8th over South Africa 51-0 (de Kock 27 Amla 22)
Lovely glance through leg from Amla, timing it so well it goes for four.
He scampers through for a single, but not before a TV replay confirms Hales' direct hit came just too late.
Eoin Morgan has another run-out chance with the last ball, but his throw is well wide.
7th over South Africa 40-0 (de Kock 22 Amla 17)
De Kock is moving along nicely, nudging another couple off Mark Wood who responds with a quicker short ball.
Five off it, a good over from Wood. The RRR at 6.76.
6th over South Africa 35-0 (de Kock 20 Amla 14)
Jake Ball's back and his fourth ball is short and a tad wide, allowing De Kock to cut for a boundary. Jason Roy may have done better to stop the ball.
Ball's unlucky a couple of deliveries later when De Kock top-edges one over the keeper. Four more, but very fortuitous.
5th over South Africa 24-0 (de Kock 12 Amla 12)
Ouch - Hashim Amla is hit on the helmet by a short ball from Mark Wood. He looks to be OK, but his helmet is now.
It's a skiddy ball from Wood, as is his natural delivery, but Amla cannot get out the way and it hits him straight in the grill.
He composes himself again and gets off strike with a single.
Super over from Wood, though, who keeps it tight - just one off it.
4th over South Africa 23-0 (de Kock 12 Amla 11)
Ball has an LBW shout turned down with the second ball of his second over. Amla's got some bat on it, though, and the umpire rightly rejects the appeal.
Ball is up in the high-80s and grunting in his delivery stride. Plenty of effort. The sun is blazing down on the Rose Bowl now, unlike earlier, so batting may well become easier.
To illustrate the point, Amla drives a full ball down the ground for four. This will not be easy for the hosts.
3rd over South Africa 16-0 (de Kock 10 Amla 6)
Quick run from Amla to Morgan in the covers, who missed with his throw. Would have been close.
De Kock follows that up with a wonderful drive for four through the off-side, lovely balance and a straight follow-through.
He already has 12 ODI hundreds in 80 appearances, with an average strike rate of 95. Someone England will want to get early.
2nd over South Africa 11-0 (de Kock 6 Amla 5)
Good start for South Africa, De Kock dispatching Jake Ball for four in the second over. They'll want a quick start here to keep ahead of the rate.
1st over South Africa reply 5-0 (de Kock 1 Amla 4 )
Amla clips Wood's second delivery away and it beats long leg. Amla works a short ball to midwicket, but that can't take a quick single.
That's it - England 330-6 off their 50 overs
Moeen Ali is out, hitting the ball high up. He's caught by De Kock for 33.
Excellent again from England and in particular Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who scored 101 and 65 not out respectfully.
We'll be back shortly to see if England can defend their lead and win this three-match series.
49.5 - one run
Buttler can only hit a single.
49.4 - two runs
Buttler skies it up in the air and over De Kock, the wicketkeeper, but he grabs two. 329-5.
49.3 - one run
Slower delivery from Phehlukwayo, who can only drag it to mid-off for a single.
49.2 - four runs!
Ali goes the other way this time and clips it for another boundary. 326-5.
49.1 - four runs!
Phehlukwayo to Ali, who clears his front leg and strikes it for four.
49th over - England 318-5 (Ali 24, Buttler 62)
The impressive Rabada again. South Africa need one more tight over from him.
Ali chips him for two into the leg side. He then hooks one up in the air - out? Surely. Nope! Hashim Amla makes a bit of a mess of it, cannot set himself and it goes for four.
South Africa's fielding has not been the best today.
Final ball for Rabada - and Buttler can only knock it for two. An excellent spell of 2-50 off 10.
One more to go!
48th over - England 307-5 (Ali 17 , Buttler 59)
Fifty for Buttler, who brings it up with a scoop for two. Another fine knock, and a terrific change of pace. He played second fiddle to Ben Stokes, but now has a strike rate of 110.
Now 300-up for England as Stokes pulls a short slower ball from Morris for four, almost like a tennis shot.
He then swings and misses.
But the final ball does go for four.
Statement of intent here from Buttler. He is back and another vital cog clicks into place for England ahead of C Trophy
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) May 27, 2017
47th over - England 292-5 (Ali 13 , Buttler 49)
Rabada's bowled very well here, starting his ninth over with 2-36. They'll need him to finish his spell without too many dramas.
And he's doing just that - this has been a quiet over so far with one ball to go - just one and a leg-bye.
Ali can only grab a single with the final ball of the over.
46th over - England 289-5 (Ali 12 , Buttler 48)
England now motoring nicely - Buttler clipping the ball for a boundary before repeating the trick with a reverse upper-pull. Not sure it's called that, but you get the picture.
He finishes the over with another four - a more orthodox pull. 22 runs off the over!
44th over - England 261-5 (Ali 4 , Buttler 30)
Buttler brings out a couple of reverse sweeps and moves onto 30.
Moeen Ali brings up a boundary off his first ball, driving in the air through the covers.
Ten runs off the over - and the wicket of Stokes.
Wicket! Stokes 101 c Miller b Maharaj
Oh no - Stokes toe-ends one to Miller at long-off and his fine 79-ball innings comes to an end.
He's put England in an excellent position. Next up, Moeen Ali.
43rd over - England 251-4 (Stokes 101, Buttler 24)
Hundred for Ben Stokes!
What a phenomenal innings after his early luck. Dropped, edging it early on but since he's been superb. That 100 comes off only 77 balls.
And he's not done yet.
England pass 250. Seven to go.
42nd over - England 241-4 (Stokes 92, Buttler 23)
Stokes gives himself room for Pretorius' third ball and wallops it for four. Another two puts him into the 90s.
Every ball is being attacked now. England onto 241 and looking at 320+.
41st over - England 231-4 (Stokes 85, Buttler 20)
And there he is - Buttler bringing out the scoop - and it goes to four. Nicely done.
England picking up the pace very quickly. We could be in for an entertaining final 54 balls.
40th over - England 219-4 (Stokes 79, Buttler 14)
Pretorius to Stokes: four runs. It's the lesser-seen reverse pull over point!
Next ball is looped up in the air, but into a gap - another two.
Buttler is doing very well in just rotating the strike. He's got 14 off 24 and playing second fiddle. He'll surely get involved in the coming overs.
39th over - England 210-4 (Stokes 71, Buttler 13)
New bat, please for Stokes. He won't want to give up his current one up easily. Instead he gets it taped up.
A good over for South Africa, just two off of it.
Now then, how far can England go? 310 a minimum, but with Stokes and Buttler in they'll be wanting a lot lot more.
38th over - England 208-4 (Stokes 70, Buttler 12)
Maharaj again, 13 overs to go.
England are averaging 100+ in the final 10 overs in recent times and they may need that again.
They've passed 200 and Stokes plunders the ball down the ground for another boundary to kick them on further.
If these two stick around...
37th over - England 198-4 (Stokes 64, Buttler 8)
Phehlukwayo drops the ball short, but Stokes cannot quite get enough on it and it only goes for a single.
Now that's close! Buttler is struck on the pads in front and that looks very, very close.
De Villiers calls for a review - and, while it is just clipping, it goes with the umpires's call. Not out. Just!
36th over - England 197-4 (Stokes 63, Buttler 8)
Ben Stokes is beginning to enjoy this now, hitting the second and third balls for four off Maharaj and England on the brink of 200, going at 5.47 an over.
35th over - England 185-4 (Stokes 53, Buttler 6)
Buttler takes advantage of a misfield for two and then scampers down the wicket for a quick single.
Rabada throws in another wide, much to the disgust of de Kock and South Africa are in a real hands-on-hips, head shaking sort of mood at the moment.
34th over - England 179-4 (Stokes 52, Buttler 2)
Play resumes after deep discussion over state of the white ball between De Villiers and the umpires. No call is made and it's thrown over to Maharaj.
Buttler is off the mark as he clips to long-on, he cuts the final delivery from off stump, through cover to the sweeper and another chat between umpire and De Villiers ensues. An animated De Villiers is not happy.
33rd over - England 175-4 (Stokes 50, Buttler 0)
Drinks taken as Stokes successfully repairs his helmet after being instructed to fix the issue by the umpire.
Stokes edges a delivery but it's up and over the slips and it runs quickly away for four. Stokes middles the next down mid-on before he brings up his 50 with a single off his 48th delivery.
WICKET!! Morgan c de Kock b Rabada 45
Morgan falls the next ball going for the cut but edges it to de Kock who gathers well down low.
South Africa needed that wicket.
Buttler leaves his first delivery alone.
32nd over - England 166-3 (Stokes 41, Morgan 45)
Maharaj replaces Morris at the other end. Morgan paddle-sweeps through short fine leg for two runs and picks up a quick single on the next. A nice delivery beats the outside edge as Morgan pushes forward but no breakthrough.
31st over - England 160-3 (Stokes 40, Morgan 40)
Brief hold up as Stokes tries to fix his helmet which took a knock in that last over and the players grab a quick drink. Rabada returns to the attack as the visitors look to make a key breakthrough.
A wide off his fourth delivery doesn't help their cause and Stokes takes another two off the final delivery with a cover drive.
30th over - England 154-3 (Stokes 37, Morgan 38)
Morris charges in again and Morgan pulls hard for a single.
Stokes strikes a huge six into the crowd with the third ball, clearing his front leg out the way and striking it cleanly into the leg side. He's onto 36 off 40 balls.
Morgan gets a little tied up with the final ball - and we're at 30 overs.
29th over - England 145-3 (Stokes 30, Morgan 37)
Morgan tickles a straight ball from Phehlukwayo down to fine-leg for four. The Sky Sports graphic shows his record on this ground is superb - averaging around 75. England may need that - and more - from him today.
The run rate sticking around the five-an-over mark.
28th over - England 137-3 (Stokes 29, Morgan 31)
Wonderful shot from Morgan, a cut, splits point and gully just perfectly. There's barely five yards between them, but he finds the gap and it goes for four.
Morris can't quite believe it, turning and grinning on his way back to his mark.
England have recovered well with this partnership. Eight an over from here gets 313.
27th over - England 132-3 (Stokes 29, Morgan 26)
Six! Stokes leans back and gets tucked into Phehlukwayo's second delivery. It was just short of a length, but with the ball barely doing anything - and with Stokes' power - it cleared the ropes without any risk.
Fifty partnership up, Stokes onto 28.
26th over - England 124-3 (Stokes 22, Morgan 25)
Morris is back and England look much more comfortable with his slightly quicker pace.
Eeek, that's a tight run for Morgan who would have been well out if the ball had hit. Risky call.
The partnership now 44 off 61.
25th over - England 120-3 (Stokes 21, Morgan 23)
Another edge! Another drop!
Could be a problem this, too, for Quinton de Kock who takes his glove off to inspect his finger tips.
Difficult chance for him, though, as Stokes gets a thick edge off Phehlukwayo. De Kock resumes quickly, which is good news.
The England batsman closes in on nine lives used with a shot in the air, fortunately nowhere near the fielders.
Plenty of luck for him so far, but he's still there.
24th over - England 117-3 (Stokes 19, Morgan 22)
Morgan has had enough of that and sends Phehlukwayo's first delivery down the ground, through the air, for four.
Some relief for England.
Meanwhile, Stokes plays a quite beautiful aerial drive down the ground for four. Straight down the line of the camera. Lovely.
But he rides his luck a little, again, with a thick inside edge between mid-on and mid-wicket. Another boundary, though.
22nd over - England 103-3 (Stokes 10, Morgan 17)
AB de Villiers, of course, took the threatening Maharaj out of the attack - but this stat shows that may not be a bad idea.
Morgan's ODI average v slow left arm spin of 53.63 is his highest by bowler-type. His lowest is v right arm pace: 33.75. #EngvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) May 27, 2017
England struggling to get these two away, only a couple coming off Pretorius' seventh over.
Still overcast - and batting not looking as easy as it did in Wednesday's first ODI.
21st over - England 101-3 (Stokes 9, Morgan 16)
Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack. Like Pretorius, not massively quick - hitting around 80-82mph - and bowling wicket to wicket.
Morgan cannot get him away, and it's a maiden. The first of the innings.
20th over - England 100-3 (Stokes 9, Morgan 16)
England's 100 comes up, but not before an LBW shout off Stokes. The umpire thinks he's hit it, and gives the run, but replays show it might have been a double strike of the pads.
Hawkeye shows it would have been missing anyway.
19th over - England 98-3 (Stokes 8, Morgan 15)
Poor Maharaj, where's his luck? He's had Hales dropped, Stokes dropped (x2) and he's now causing Eoin Morgan problems too. His figures so far 0-31 off 5.
Only a glove saves Morgan from a probable LBW before he comes close to chopping on.
18th over - England 93-3 (Stokes 7, Morgan 11)
South Africa are bowling around the wicket to Stokes to cramp the England man up and it's working well so far.
England face a bit of a rebuilding job here after losing Hales and Root in quick succession.
17th over - England 88-3 (Stokes 6, Morgan 9)
A break in play here as Ben Stokes needs, possibly, the quickest change of gloves of all-time. He scampers through for a single, drives and gets a grass stain on one of his mits. Luckily 12th man Sam Billings is quick off the mark and a fresh set are delivered.
They're nearly wasted, too. Stokes edges his first delivery to Hashim Amla at first slip, and he misses it! Straight through.
Then another drop! De Kock puts down an edge - a trickier chance.
Then a thicker edge wide of slip!
Stokes riding his luck - and he's only three balls in. Quick - send for a change of gloves!
Wicket! Root 39 - run out (Pretorius)
Oh dear, Root's gone in unfortunate circumstances. Pretorius gets a finger tip on Morgan's straight drive, deflecting it onto the stumps with Root a good few yards out of his crease.
South Africa celebrate, Root looks pained at having to head back. He looked in very good form, but he won't be able to cash in today.
15th over - England 74-2 (Root 38, Morgan 6)
Root's paddle isn't entirely successful, dropping just short of the short fine-leg.
A much better over from Maharaj, who keeps it to four runs.
14th over - England 74-2 (Root 36, Morgan 4)
What a beautiful shot from Eoin Morgan, who drives Pretorius through the covers to the ropes. The shot of a man in form with perfect balance.
Wicket! Hales 24 - c de Kock b Pretorius
The drop doesn't cost South Africa anything as England lose their second wicket. And what an excellent catch by De Kock, who up to the stumps takes Hales' thickish edge.
Relief for South Africa and timely as England looked to kick on.
13th over - England 69-1 (Root 36, Hales 24)
Fifty partnership up as Root sweeps through the air for four. He's turned it up a gear here, taking 34 of those 50 and at a run a ball.
Then Hales is dropped! He comes down the wicket and strikes it down to long-on, but Rabada barely gets a finger on it. Worse still, he tips it over for six.
Oh dear. Escape for England.
12th over - England 58-1 (Root 30, Hales 18)
Root continues to dominate Pretorius, half-scooping the second ball down fine-leg for a boundary, before driving the next delivery for another four.
Sixteen runs off the first nine balls for Pretorius. Pressure on.
Another good over for England, with another three runs in the final half of the over. 11 off it.
11th over - England 47-1 (Root 21, Hales 16)
Keshav Maharaj, the slow-left-armer comes onto bowl, with a nice round action firing them in from wide on the crease.
England pick up three singles in a good first over for the South African.
The weather still overcast and, given England's quiet start, it looks like the decision to bowl first was a good one.
10th over - England 43-1 (Root 19, Hales 14)
Excellent shot from Root, who comes down the pitch to Dwaine Pretorius and drives him down the ground for four.
Pretorius is bowling somewhere in the mid-to-late 70s, a complete contrast to Rabada.
Root gets stuck in again, coming down the pitch again and whipping through leg for a second four. England look like they'll attack this kind of bowling more.
Ten gone.
9th over - England 35-1 (Root 11, Hales 14)
Rabada in again and continuing to look quick. Hales stands tall and drives down to a slightly deeper mid-on, picking up a single. Root chases a wider delivery and misses.
As Nasser Hussain points out on commentary, Rabada's pace puts Root with more weight on his back foot.
Rabada gets away with one as Root pulls straight to fine leg.
8th over - England 33-1 (Root 10, Hales 13)
Morris cuts Root in half, getting the ball to jag back. Young Joe lets out a cry.
But he gets inside the line of the fourth ball and helps it down to fine leg for four. Poor delivery, that.
Root picks up another couple with a perfectly-weighted glance and moves onto 10 off 12 deliveries.
Since Hales & Roy’s partnership of 256 v Sri Lanka they are averaging 20.92 runs per wicket together & have not scored 50 once. #EngvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) May 27, 2017
7th over - England 25-1 (Root 3, Hales 12)
Hales scampers back for a couple after hitting Rabada's slower ball backward of point. His defences are tested once more with the next delivery, a little straighter, but he survives.
South Africa with the better start, here. England ticking along at 3.57 runs per over.
6th over - England 20-1 (Root 1, Hales 9)
Root off the mark with a glance down to wide fine-leg off Morris, before Hales shows aggression off the final ball with a swat through the off side. Quite a shot. You wouldn't see Joe Root doing that!
5th over - England 13-1 (Root 0, Hales 4)
An excellent over from Rabada, who claimed Roy with the first ball.
World cricket has a shortage of genuine quick bowlers, so he's always a joy to watch.
Here's how he got Roy:
Wicket! Roy 8 - b Rabada (England 12-1)
The South Africa quick beats Roy for pace and sends the England opener packing with the first ball of the fifth.
93.2mph. Oof.
4th over - England 12-0 (Roy 8, Hales 4)
Morris, too, finding his line nicely and concedes only a single for Roy.
While this innings gets going, why not have a read of Scyld Berry's South Africa Champions Trophy preview?
3rd over - England 11-0 (Roy 7, Hales 4)
A first uncomfortable moment in this opening overs for England's batsmen. Rabada's well and truly warmed up now and sends down his fourth delivery at quite a lick - 93mph to be exact.
Roy tries to pull it off the front foot, but it strikes him on the glove and onto the point of his elbow. He takes a moment to compose himself again.
A single completes the over. England off to a solid start.
2nd over - England 10-0 (Roy 6, Hales 4)
Now it is Alex Hales' turn to glance through mid-wicket for four, a quite beautiful shot off Chris Morris. An otherwise quiet over.
The Rose Bowl is filling up nicely, the sun threatening to come out too. The cricket season is picking up apace.
1st over - England 6-0 (Roy 6, Hales 0)
Kagiso Rabada bowls the first over for South Africa, quickly finding a nice line with his first three balls. You don't bowl straight at Jason Roy, though, something the quick does with balls four and five - a couple and a boundary the result.
Good start for England. The pitch playing as nicely as it looks.
The players are out...
...and the pitch looks spectacular. Same colour from crease to crease.
Good news on Ben Stokes - here's Scyld Berry's take
Our cricket correspondent's full second ODI preview is here, but here's a snippet:
Having erred on the side of fearlessness, not caution, for the two years since the last World Cup of lamentable memory, England have done so again by selecting Ben Stokes for the second one-day international against South Africa.
Stokes limped off after bowling only two overs in the first game at Headingley, and subsequently had a scan on the left knee which he had damaged so badly in the Test against Sri Lanka on the same ground last year that he needed an operation to remove cartilage. Next Thursday England launch the Champions Trophy in which almost every game is a must-win - but no, England decided not to rest their most indispensable cricketer in this three-match series against South Africa.
In England’s cause Stokes would run through a brick wall, or a dressing-room locker, and the scan was reported to have revealed nothing untoward. Still, his selection - not just as a batsman, because England say he will bowl some overs - is an indication of how determined they are to extend their seven-match unbeaten run and to go into the Champions Trophy with the scalp of the country which is ranked number one, although South Africa are demonstrably past their peak.
Stokes’s fitness test was a mini-drama in itself, not because he is a prima donna preening himself on his £1.7m IPL contract - the complete opposite in fact, a diehard team man - but because he brings more intensity to a practice session than others do to a Test. First was the squad’s warm-up football, without tackling it is true, but not what every doctor would have ordered for a recently strained knee.
Stokes followed up with two net-sessions of batting, first against England’s spinners then against England’s pace bowlers. But he was only beginning to build up a sweat on a boiling morning, though the hillside on which the Ageas Bowl has been built does catch the breeze.
Toss news
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the second ODI between England vs South Africa. We'll be here throughout the day with live over-by-over updates.
News from the middle is South Africa have won the toss and have put England into bat.
Ben Stokes is fit to play for England: Roy, Hales, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Rashid, Ball, Plunkett Wood.
Ten minutes until we're away.
Second ODI preview
What is it?
It's second game of the three-match ODI series between England and South Africa.
A fine innings of 107 from England captain Eoin Morgan inspired his team to a comfortable 72-run victory over AB de Villiers’ No.1-ranked South Africa side at Headingley on Wednesday night.
For both sides, the series represents a final warm-up before the ICC Champions Trophy gets underway with England v Bangladesh next Thursday.
When is it?
Morgan’s men will be aiming to secure the series with another victory over the Proteas when they turn out at Southampton’s Rose Bowl on May 27, or Saturday.
What time does it start?
Following Wednesday’s exciting encounter under the lights in Leeds, the second ODI will begin earlier, with the action set to get underway at 11am.
What TV channel is it on?
Just as with the first ODI, you can catch all the action live on Sky Sports 2.
What is the team news?
England are largely expected to field an almost identical side to the one which performed so well in the first game against South Africa.
The one big difference we could see in Eoin Morgan’s squad is the possible absence of all-rounder Ben Stokes, who sustained an injury to his left knee during Wednesday’s win.
Although the 25-year-old has been cleared for the second ODI, it is possible that England might take the decision to rest him with the start of the Champions Trophy so close.
If Stokes doesn’t play, it would likely result in a reshuffle which could see one of Jonny Bairstow or David Willey come into the team.
In the other camp, South Africa are not expected to make any adjustments to Wednesday’s team. The only question is whether de Villiers will choose to bring in Morne Morkel. If the aggressive fast bowler does return to the team, Andile Phehlukwayo is the man expected to miss out.
What are they saying?
“That’s the best way we could have started. It was a complete performance. Moeen [the man of the match] has one of the hardest jobs batting at seven and he was very calm and composed before taking the game to them. It was a very satisfying effort against a really strong team, especially given the start they had with the bat.” – Eoin Morgan
""You get guys batting at 4 and 5 coming late in the game and getting a hundred, that's why Morgan's innings was a game-changer." – Hashim Amla
What are the odds?
England 1/4
South Africa 3/1
What's our prediction?
Following their excellent display in mid-week, we are confident that England can achieve another win over South Africa, especially if Morgan fields the same team. However, if England were to rest Stokes, it would be interesting to see how his absence might affect the finely-tuned balance of the XI.
