By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa have beaten England by five runs in the second one-day international at Lord’s to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The series defeat is England’s first since Harry Brook took charge of the white-ball team at the beginning of the summer, and their fifth in six ODI series since the 2023 World Cup.
In damp conditions, England chose to field and reduced South Africa to 93-3, only for Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs to rebuild. Breetzke made 85 and Stubbs 58.
Dewald Brevis’ 42 from only 20 balls lifted South Africa to 330-8. Though Jofra Archer claimed four wickets, a combined 10 overs of spin from Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks cost 112.
England lost Jamie Smith to the first ball of the reply and Ben Duckett for a scratchy 18, yet the chase was ignited by Bethell’s 58. With Joe Root in superb touch for 61, England were in in the hunt at 143-2.
Bethell cut to point and Root was stumped by a distance, the two wickets falling for the addition of only four runs.
From then on, England never got on top of the chase. Jos Buttler made 61, Brook 33 and Jacks 39 without ever being in control.
Archer kept a thinning crowd entertained and, in the company of last man Saqib Mahmood, needed 16 from the last over. Spinner Senuran Muthusamy held his nerve and Archer could not find the six from the final delivery that would have tied the scores.
The game lasted the full 100 overs, unlike the first ODI at Headingley, which was wrapped up inside 46. The series concludes at Southampton on Sunday.
With inputs from BBC Sports.