Johannesburg: South African all-rounder Chris Morris helped his side to resister a prolific one-wicket win over England by playing a stunning knock in the fourth ODI here at New Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
Morris played a magnificent 62-run knock off just 38 deliveries which helped the hosts to level the five-match series 2-2.
Chasing a descent 263-run target, the Proteas lost Hashim Amla in the very first over. But after then, South African batsmen got starts but couldn’t able to convert those scores into big ones. In a result, the hosts came down to 191/6 when the last recognised batsman Farhaan Behardien was dismissed.
Morris came to join David Wiese who was already at the crease. At that time, they were requiring 72 runs from 76 deliveries.
But soon after Wiese and Rabada got out and the visitors came down to 210/8 in 41.3 overs as they were requiring 53 off just 51 deliveries with only two wickets in hand. It was looking like an impossible task for the Proteas to win the game.
But, Morris spoiled the English party by playing an electrifying knock which ruined the English’s hope to seal the series by winning the game.
He along with Kyle Abbott, added 52 runs in just 34 deliveries. However, he couldn’t able to finish the game for his side as he was dismissed with just one more runs to win. But he had done job and it was up to the last man Imran Tahir and Abbott to complete the win and Tahir had done it with a boundary.
Abbott played a key role when he partnered Morris nicely as he scored 3 runs off 11 deliveries.
Previously, England able to set 263-run target.
Opener Alex Hales also played well and scored a half-century, batting up the order. It was his fourth consecutive half-century.
As the visitors were struggling with 108/6, Chris Woakes played a vital role by making a 95 run seventh-wicket stand with Root.
Joe Root was the highest scorer with scoring a magnificent 109 off just 125 deliveries while Woakes made a solid 38-ball-33 runs.
However, it was Adil Rashid who finished the game well by scoring 39 runs off just 26 deliveries. The cameo innings helped the English side to go past 250-run mark.
Rabada bagged four wickets while leggie Imran Tahir pocketed three wickets.
In a result, South Africa levelled the series 2-2 with the decider will be played in Cape Town on Sunday.
