Sun, 06 Mar 2011 - England vs South Africa, World Cup 2011, 21th match Group B - Bulletin

England crumble to SA spinners to 171 all-out

South African bowling department, spin in particular, proved their credentials yet again by folding all of English batsmen for paltry 171 runs in the crucial group B match played at Chennai.

Had it not been to 4th wicket partnership of 99 runs between Ravi Bopara and Johnathan Trott, situation as far as England could have been more embarrassing. On a turning Chennai track, England batsmen weren’t able to apply themselves and were not allowed to let off hook by South African spinners Imran Tahir (four wickets) and Robin Peterson with fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn sharing three wickets between two of them.

It was left arm spinner Robin Peterson, opening the bowling, who removed both English openers in his first over and Ian Bell in his third to leave England tattering at 15 for the loss of three wickets inside first five overs after opting to bat first on dry Chennai pitch.

Skipper Graeme Smith made a magic move by opening the bowling with Peterson who removed Strauss on third ball and ended his dream over with a wicket of Kevin Pieterson caught in the first slip by Jacques Kallis.

He then displayed his athletic skills by diving full length in his follow through to hold on to Ian Bell check drive. Then Trott and Bopara did the rearguard action both crossing their fifties to give some stability to England innings with both working the ball into gaps to rotate the strike over.

Trott was very settled at the crease with his 52 coming off 94 balls including three fours while Bopara after early struggle looked good for a big score and had three fours and a six in his 98 ball 60.

The partnership was broken by impressive leg spinner Tahir who had Trott beautifully caught and bowled in his second spell triggering a collapse. Smith was quick to seize on to the opportunity bringing back his fast bowlers Morne Morkel back into the attack who chipped in with two important wickets of Matt Prior and Bopara.

Steyn had wicket of Tim Bresnan and Tahir finished the tail virtually in no time ending his figures with four wickets for 38 runs while Peterson had incredible figures of 3 for 22 in his 8 overs.

Peterson triple strike rocks England early

Slow left arm spinner, Robin Peterson’s three wicket haul in his first spell rocked England early in their group B match against South Africa with score reading at 57 for the loss at three wickets at the end of 16 overs.

Peterson who opened the bowling removed both openers in first over by getting England captain, Andrew Strauss caught in the deep by AB Devillers for duck following it the wicket of Kevin Pieterson who was caught by Kallis in the slip for 2.

He continued his good work by holding on to a difficult catch in his follow through to remove Ian Bell to send England reeling at 15 for three.

England, however, were making a recovery thanks to an undefeated 4th wicket partnership of 42 runs between Ravi Bopara and Johnathan Trott.

TOSS

England have won the toss and have no hesitation in batting first on Chennai pitch which Andrew Strauss, England captain, is a good one for batting.

Big team news from England camp is senior batsman Paul Collinwood has been dropped for this game and in comes Ravi Bopara to replace him. South Africa skipper Graeme Smith says that he would want his side to play good cricket for hundred overs.

Proteas are unchanged for this game that means no place of Johan Botha.

The pitch, Ian Botham in his pitch reports said, would turn in the later stages of the game and might offer some swing to the pacemen in first half an hour or so.

England playing XI: Andrew Strauss (c),Kevin Pietersen,Jonathan Trott,Ian Bell,Ravinder Bopara,Matt Prior (wk),Michael Yardy,Tim Bresnan,Stuart Broad,Graeme Swann,James Anderson

South Africa playing XI: Graeme Smith (c),Hashim Amla,Jacques Kallis,AB de Villiers,JP Duminy,Faf du Plessis,Morne van Wyk (wk),Robin Peterson,Imran Tahir,Dale Steyn,Morne Morkel

Read the complete story on part 2