Proteas

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma scored a third ODI century on Sunday providing further proof of the aggressive style that he wants his side to play. Image: Lee ...

Bavuma’s 109 was scored at a strike rate better than 100, but his dismissal did open the door for the tourists. On Friday's 27-run win to SA in the opening match he scored at a strike rate of 128 for his 36, giving the innings early impetus. This was the third-highest run chase in SA and it needed an aggressive approach. He scored 80, Jos Buttler an unbeaten 94, while Moeen with 51 and Sam Curran (28 off 17 balls), took advantage of the Proteas' inaccuracy in the last few overs. His position in both the 50-over, and particularly the T20, teams has been under the microscope. There was time to do so because of another painful episode — being overlooked for the SA20.

On Sunday in SA's five-wicket win at Mangaung Oval, after he stroked Moeen Ali through extra cover and then turned to his teammates, Bavuma punched the air, ...

This was the third-highest run chase in SA and it needed an aggressive approach. Bavuma’s 109 was scored at a strike rate better than 100, but his dismissal did open the door for the tourists. He scored 80, Jos Buttler an unbeaten 94, while Moeen Ali with 51 and Sam Curran (28 off 17 balls), took advantage of the Proteas’ inaccuracy in the last few overs. On a personal level it’s been a trying time in the limited overs formats for Bavuma in the past 12 months. He did something similar on Sunday, but then instead of a reckless dismissal as happened last Friday, he stuck it out, hustling singles and twos. Bavuma’s third ODI century included some of the finest ball-striking of his career.

Temba Bavuma's classy century set up a brilliant Proteas run-chase to beat England and silence those critics who seem to hang on to Apartheid ideals.

The tourists could only post 42/2 in the first 10 overs. His man-of-the-match effort in Sunday’s crunch match merely underlined this, no doubt to the embarrassment of his detractors. Following De Kock’s dismissal, Bavuma batted through to the 28th over, scoring a superb 109 off 102 balls, with 14 fours and a six. England had earlier finished powerfully as they posted a formidable 342/7. When Bavuma fell, scooping left-arm quick Sam Curran back into his stumps, South Africa still needed 169 runs in 22.5 overs. He also showed his determination by batting through painful cramps as he approached his century.

An outstanding century from South Africas captain Temba Bavuma helped the Proteas to a five-wicket victory over England, taking them an unassailable 2-0 ...

However, the tensions were clear as Curran celebrated in Bavuma's face when he ramped into his stumps shortly before Van der Dussen reverse swept to point. De Kock swivel-pulled Woakes for six after an X-ray gave him the all-clear to bat, having left the field during England's innings with a thumb injury. But the issue did not distract Bavuma, who defied the onset of cramp to drive Adil Rashid for his 14th four - to go with one six - for a 90-ball 100. He had already overturned an lbw verdict before being castled by Lungi Ngidi's fuller nip-backer which squeezed through bat and pad, having been set up by two back-of-a-length outswingers. Buttler monstered a six out the ground off Ngidi, who leaked 39 in his last two overs as England accelerated past 300, taking 60 off the last four overs to finish on a high. Brook, who made a duck on his ODI debut in Friday's 27-run defeat, led England's recovery from 33 for two with a fine innings containing seven fours and four sixes while Olly Stone was threatening throughout and took two for 48.

South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, struck a magnificent 109 in 102 balls to lead his team to a superb five-wicket victory over England in the second ...

Ali timed the ball beautifully to strike 51 in 45, including six fours and a six before he played on to Nortje. Buttler finished unbeaten on 94 in 82 balls (8x4s, 3x6s) as he took his team to a formidable total. His 80 in 75 balls included seven fours and four sixes as he announced his presence on the world ODI stage. For a man who has come in for his fair share of criticism for his white-ball form, Bavuma came up with all the answers in front of his adoring fans yesterday. Brook, who made a duck in his ODI debut on Friday, almost immediately took charge, playing a succession of fine shots all around the wicket. The Pietermaritzburg-born left-hander struck a composed unbeaten 58 in 37 balls (2x4s, 3x6s), finishing the match in appropriate style off the first ball of the final over as he serenely drove Chris Woakes for six over long-off.

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma struck a century to lead his team to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the second ODI against England in Bloemfontein on ...

“It was a brilliant game of cricket and a great chase by South Africa.” England struggled initially, losing both openers inside the first seven overs, but prospered as batting conditions eased. We played the conditions, which were good for batting.” “It was very enjoyable. “It was very special,” said Bavuma. He reacted in an emotional fashion when he hit the next ball from Adil Rashid through the covers for four.

The Proteas are walking a fine line as they seek automatic qualification for this year's World Cup and it involves more than just winning matches, ...

England finished on 342/7, something that would have exceeded their expectations at the halfway point of the innings. While variety is always welcome whether in length or pace, the fact that they eschewed the ‘yorker’ was alarming. Brook’s presence in this series owes to England’s own rotation policy as they seek out who might provide options in the absence of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis believes that the Proteas women cricket team can go all the way in the Women's T20 World Cup hosted in SA next month.

Captain Temba Bavuma struck a superb 109 from 102 balls as South Africa chased down a record target in Bloemfontein to beat England by five wickets ...

"Credit to South Africa, Temba led from the front." The wicket in Bloemfontein is nice and suits the way we want to play. "Chasing 340 like that will give us a lot of confidence.

South African captain Temba Bavuma hit a century to lead his team to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the second one-day international against...

Bavuma and Quinton de Kock made a fast start, putting on 77 for the first wicket in 12 overs. "It was a brilliant game of cricket and a great chase by South Africa." He was the only member of the South African team not signed up for the country's new Twenty20 league and his place in the national white-ball teams had been questioned because of a perceived inability to score at the rapid rate required in modern limited overs cricket.