PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa – England opener Alex Hales fell one short of a second one-day International century as his team completed a comfortable five-wicket victory over South Africa yesterday.The hosts won the toss in the second game of the series and posted 262 for seven in their 50 overs on a slow wicket that produced nothing like the run-fest of Bloemfontein three days earlier.
Hales took England close to their target with a patient 99 from 124 balls as they reached 263 for five from 46.2 overs.
The touring side now lead the five-match series 2-0 with the third game in Pretoria on Tuesday.
AB de Villiers returned to form as he top-scored for South Africa’s with 73 from 91 balls, supported by Faf du Plessis (46) and JP Duminy (47).
Seamer Reece Topley recorded career-best bowling figures for England of 4-50 from nine overs, including the early scalp of Hashim Amla (4).
England lost opener Jason Roy (14) early in their reply, but Hales, usually an explosive opening batsman, played an innings of accumulation rather than brute force, scoring just eight boundaries.
He fell one shy of his ton when he was caught by South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Kyle Abbott after the ball brushed his glove.
England still needed 61 to win but were steered home by an excellent 48 not out from 28 deliveries by Jos Buttler.
He was ably supported by Moeen Ali (21 not out) as the pair put on 61 in just five overs against the wilting home attack to turn a tense run chase into a stroll.
Abbott, restored to the South African side after injury, was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-58 from nine overs.
SOUTH AFRICA Innings
H. Amla b Topley 4
Q. de Kock lbw b Stokes 22
F. du Plessis c Jordan b Rashid 46
A. de Villiers c Jordan b Stokes 73
J. Duminy lbw b Topley 47
R. Rossouw c Buttler b Topley 11
F. Behardien not out 23
K. Rabada c Morgan b Topley 12
K. Abbott not out 7
Extras (lb-8 w-9) 17
Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 262
Fall of wickets: 1-4 H. Amla,2-53 Q. de Kock,3-98 F. du Plessis,4-205 A. de Villiers,5-206 J. Duminy,6-225 R. Rossouw,7-245 K. Rabada
Did not bat: M. Morkel, I. Tahir
Bowling: R. Topley 9 – 1 – 50 – 4(w-2),D. Willey 7 – 2 – 33 – 0(w-1),
B. Stokes 9 – 0 – 54 – 2(w-2), A. Rashid 10 – 0 – 43 – 1,
M. Ali 10 – 1 – 41 – 0(w-3),C. Jordan 5 – 0 – 33 – 0(w-1).
ENGLAND Innings
J. Roy b Abbott 14
A. Hales c de Kock b Abbott 99
J. Root b Abbott 38
E. Morgan c de Villiers b M. Morkel 29
B. Stokes b M. Morkel 0
J. Buttler not out 48
M. Ali not out 21
Extras (lb-11 w-3) 14
Total (for 5 wickets, 46.2 overs) 263
Fall of wickets: 1-20 J. Roy,2-117 J. Root,3-169 E. Morgan,4-176 B. Stokes,5-202 A. Hales
Did not bat: C. Jordan, A. Rashid, D. Willey, R. Topley
Bowling: K. Abbott 9 – 1 – 58 – 3(w-1), K. Rabada 9 – 0 – 35 – 0,
M. Morkel 8.2 – 0 – 31 – 2(w-1),I. Tahir 10 – 0 – 66 – 0,
F. Behardien 6 – 0 – 35 – 0(w-1),J. Duminy 4 – 0 – 27 – 0.
