England return as top ODI team with 6wkts win over South Africa

By Meg Anderson

LONDON (TheSportsNext) September 3, 2012: A brilliant batting performance by Ian Bell and gutsy bowling by James Tredwell helped England return to top of the Reliance ICC Rankings for One Day Internationals on Sunday when England defeated South Africa by six wickets in the third ODI at Lord’s Cricket Stadium.

England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and invited Proteas to bat first at Lord’s but South African opening batsmen Graeme Smith (29 from 54 – 2 fours) and Hashim Amla (45 from 73 – 3 fours, 1 six) played cautiously to take the score to 68 for no loss.

It was in the 19^th over when Jade Dernbach got rid of former South African captain and gave his spinners the chance to bowl at left-hand JP Duminy (18 from 22 – 3 fours) and soon South Africa were reduced to 5/166 from a position of 1/100.

Skipper AB de Villiers (39 from 46 – 2 fours) was stumped by Kieswetter when he tried to step out of the crease to up the scoring rate and Tredwell deceived him in flight.

Faf du Plessis (1) failed to found the lost form while Wayne Parnell (5) became another victim of Trewell as South Africa limped to a total of 220 for eight from their 50 overs, thanks to responsible innings by Dean Elgar (35 from 59 – 1 four) and Robin Peterson (31 not out from 20 – 4 fours, 1 six).

James Tredwell took three wickets for 35 runs from his eight overs, Ravi Bopara captured two wickets for 34 runs while Steven Finn and Jake Dernbach grabbed one wicket apiece for 33 runs and 51 runs, respectively.

After a dismal batting performance, AB de Villiers was looking at his fast bowlers to deliver the goods and Dale Steyn soon got rid of English skipper Alastair Cook (2) but Ian Bell (88 from 137 – 8 fours, 1 six) and Jonathan Trott (48 from 77- 4 fours) added 141 runs for the second wicket from 185 balls to thwart South Africa.

England lost Trott in the 32^nd over and his wicket came with another one in shape of Ravi Bopara (6) whose bad time with the bat continued but Eoin Morgan (36 not out from 36 – 5 fours) and Craig Kieswetter (21 not out from 12 – 3 fours, 1 six) made sure that England win the match comfortably to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Ian Bell, who was declared Man of the Match for his classy knock of 88 runs, told the presentation party, "I've been working at Warwickshire at hitting over the top, that's what you need to do opening the batting in one-day internationals."

South African skipper AB de Villiers said, “We weren't at our best today. We've got a lot to look out now; our middle order failed again; we keep getting in and fail to go on to big runs. We just didn't have enough runs on the board today."

English skipper Alastair Cook said, "We made the most of the early conditions. Finny and Jimmy up front asked plenty of questions. Craig Kieswetter has been really good for us this summer, you can see how hard he can hit the ball with that six at the end."

England, who by dint of winning the third One Day International are the world’s best ODI side in the ICC Rankings, will keep the status even if they lose the final match of the series at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

The One Day International series will be followed by three Twenty20 Internationals.