London: All round performance by Ben Stokes helps the host England registered a win in the first game of the World Cup 2019 against South Africa at Kennington Oval, here.
Stokes scored 79 balls 89 runs with the bat while he took two wickets with the ball as well. The cherry on the cake he took two catches in the outfield. He was also involved in a run out during the South African innings.
Defending the challenging total of 311, England started off really well by taking two wickets within the first 10 overs. Lethal bouncer of Jofra Archer forced opening batsman Hashim Amla to leave the pitch as he was hit on the head by it.
Meanwhile, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock tried to get the chase back on track with a partnership of 85 runs for the 5th wicket but South Africa failed to keep the momentum. The Proteas team kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
De Kock scored 74 balls 68 studded with 2 maximums and 4 boundaries. Middle-order batsman Rassie van der Dussen also smashed a fifty but failed to build a partnership.
On the other hand, England bowlers who were clinical on the day didn't let the game slip from their hand by picking up wickets at crucial points. Archer, who is mentioned as an X-factor of England team, performed as expected and picked three important wickets in the match.
Liam Plunkett and Stokes as picked two wickets each. Even though the pitch was favoring the pacers English spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali picked one wicket each to dismiss the entire South African team for 207.
Earlier, along with Stokes, England skipper Eoin Morgan, opener Jason Roy, and Joe Root smashed fifties to help England set a challenging total. South African pacer lungi Ngidi picked three wickets while Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir clinched two wickets each.
Ben Stokes was named man of the match for his allround performance.
This was a great start for England and in the match, they solidified their favorite tag with this win.
