Chennai, March 6: Stuart Broad took four wickets to helpEngland beat South Africa by six runs in a low scoring 2011 ICC World Cup game at Chennai today. Set to defend a score of 171, England managed to bowl the Proteas out for 165, thereby registering a crucial victory in this Group B encounter.
It was England captain, Andrew Strauss, who won the toss and opted to bat first. But that decision came a cropper as both Strauss (0) and fellow opener Kevin Pietersen (2) fell to the left-arm spin of Rob Peterson who was asked to open the bowling attack by South Africa captain Graeme Smith. Peterson put England in a further spot of bother when he caught Ian Bell (5) off his own bowling. The England score at this stage - 15 for three in 4.4 overs.
Ravi Bopara and Jonathan Trott then mounted a spirited fight back, putting on 99 runs for the fourth wicket. Both batsmen also brought up their respective half-centuries. But Imran Tahir, the Proteas’ legspinner, dismissed Trott (52) at the score of 114 to put an end to the English resistance. Tahir took three more wickets and England were bowled out for 171. Bopara, who was trapped lbw by Morne Morkel, top scored with 60.
South Africa would have backed themselves in chasing down England’s modest total. For most part, first with the score at 63 for no loss and then at 124 for three, they appeared to be in control of proceedings. But when they lost four quick wickets, to go from 124 for three to 127 for seven, in the space of six overs, England were back in the game.
Morne van Wyk and Dale Steyn, nevertheless, put up a 33-run stand to bring South Africa within touching distance of a win. But with the Proteas needing only 12 to win off the last four overs, Tim Bresnan removed van Wyk (13) off the second ball of the 47th over. And with Stuart Broad getting rid of Steyn (20) and Morne Morkel (1) in the 48th over, England completed a memorable win.
The win puts England at the top of the points table in Group B, while South Africa are placed third in the same Group.
Brief scores: England 171 all out in 45.4 overs (Ravi Bopara 60, Jonathan Trott 52, Imran Tahir 4/38, Rob Peterson 3/22) beat South Africa 165 all out in 47.4 overs (Hashim Amla 42, Stuart Broad 4/15, James Anderson 2/16)
Man-of-the-match: Ravi Bopara for his crucial knock of 60 that held the England innings together
