4 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 2nd T20I between Eng and SA

The long tour of South Africa is finally coming to an end for the English with the final T20I slated to be played at the bullring in Johannesburg. It has been a keenly contested battle especially in the shorter formats of the game as South Africa eked out a 3-2 victory in the ODI series and then won a last ball thriller in the first T20I at Newlands. There have been plenty of fascinating sub plots which have unravelled and which have had a huge impact on the outcome of the matches so far. These two teams are slated to meet again at the group stage of the ICC WT20 and it would be a huge psychological advantage to the team winning this match going forward.

4 Fantastico Battles that could have an impact on the 2nd T20I between SavEng:

Alex Hales and Joe Root Vs Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbott

Alex Hales has been the man who has done most of the damage for the English at the top of the order while Root has supported him well with twin hundreds in the last two ODI matches. These two however failed in the first T20I and it will be imperative that they cash in against Kyle Abbott and Kasigo Rabada in particular. Rabada and Abbott have been the danger men for the Africans and Hales and Root are best suited to launch a counter attack against them.

Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler Vs Imran Tahir

Stokes and Buttler have been the catalysts who have been instrumental in England scoring rapidly in the middle and slog overs. Imran Tahir did not start the ODI series on a great note but he has been fabulous in the last ODI as well as the first T20I where he took 4 wickets for 21 runs to derail the English batting. Stokes and Buttler will need to reign themselves in and wait for the bad deliveries to smack otherwise Tahir can again wreck havoc if he sniffs blood. The impact that Stokes and Buttler can have when in full flow is huge but so is the case when Tahir is on song as he showed at Newlands!

AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis Vs Reece Topley and Chris Jordan

De Villiers is probably the best batsman among all current cricketers but for all his heroics he has been modest in the T20I's for South Africa. He can explore the whole 360 degrees on the field and he will look to take on Reece Topley first up as he will open the innings in the absence of Quinton de Kock. Faf du Plessis has a much superior record in the shortest format of the game and his battle with Chris Jordan, who took 3 wickets for just 23 runs in his 4 overs and nearly won England the game, will be exciting to watch.

David Miller and Chris Morris Vs Adil Rashid

Miller has not been in the greatest form and was left out of the ODI side but he hit a crucial four and a six in the dying stages of the first T20I at Newlands to bring the game closer home. It was Morris who took over after Miller departed and he blasted 17 off just 7 balls as South Africa stole the game from the jaws of a near defeat. Adil Rashid might not prove so easy for these big hitters to put away as he has good variations in his armoury. Morgan might consider saving an over or two of Rashid against the South African finishers.

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Fantastico Tahir, Morris Seal the 1st T20I for South Africa

After completing a remarkable come from behind 3-2 series win the South Africans were in high spirits and England looking to get their mojo back as both the teams clashed at Newlands in the first T20I of the two match series.

For South Africa, De Kock missed out due to a niggle which meant that De Villiers would have to take the gloves behind the wickets. Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl first with a slight bit of rain in the air and dodgy weather.

England got off to a swift start with both Hales and Roy taking on Rabada and Abbott as they missed their line and length. They whizzed to 36-0 by the third over but a back of the hand slower ball got Roy out, Rabada the beneficiary. It still looked like England were on course for a big total as they reached 50-1 after the power play. Imran Tahir got Hales caught brilliantly by Duminy, after he was tackled by Rabada, rugby style; thankfully no one suffered a serious injury.

At this point, England suffered a meltdown as they continued losing wickets to Tahir, by playing some senseless cricket. Tahir was Fantastico with his line and length and used his variations cleverly to leave England tottering at 81-6 after 13 overs. Tahir had figures of 3-0-16-4 and he had changed the entire game within a few overs. England now had only Jos Buttler left but even he struggled to find the boundaries. England eventually finished on 134-8 off their 20 overs, Tahir being the most impact player for South Africa with four wickets.

South Africa opened with De Villiers and Amla and they got off to a relatively brisk start reaching 25 in three and half overs when Topley got the outside edge of Amla's bat but Buttler grassed the chance. The English all rounder duo of Jordan and Stokes, though, brought England right back in the contest when they took out the openers in successive overs. The two bowled 4 overs for just 18 runs in addition to the two important wickets as South Africa reached 50-2 in eight overs. At the end of 12 overs they had reached 74-2 and with only a small target to chase, it was all going to plan for the Proteas.

Rashid got Duminy and Moeen Ali got rid of the Protea skipper Faf du Plessis to set the cat amongst the pigeons. Moeen Ali got Rilee Rossouw in the 18th over but Miller slugged a six and a four to restore some parity. Chris Jordan, in the penultimate over first got the dangerous Miller off the first ball and then Wiese off the fifth to seeing the match again in England's favour.

That left Reece Topley with 15 to defend off the final over of the match. Abbott got a single off the first ball and Morris creamed a four and a six off full tosses off the next two deliveries to bring the equation down to 4 off 3. The fourth delivery was a dot but Morris and Abbott scampered two's off the final two deliveries to seal the win for South Africa! Topley could have forced the match into a super over if he had collected the final delivery cleanly and knocked the stumps over to run the batsman out, but it was not to be as England were left ruing what could have been!

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3 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 1st T20I between Eng and SA

South Africa completed a remarkable turnaround in the ODI series by winning the last three games to clinch the series 3-2. There were plenty of amazing performances from both the teams and now the two teams meet again in the shortest format of the game in a bid to fine tune their game ahead of the ICC WT20 which will start next month in India.

3 Fantastico Battles that could have an Impact on the 1st T20I between SavEng:

AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock Vs Reece Topley

Quinton de Kock was the destroyer in chief for the South Africans in the ODI series where he cracked two swashbuckling hundreds, both filled with enterprising strokes and flair. De Villiers had a more subdued series but he still managed to finish in the series with over 200 runs at an average of more than 72. It will be an explosive opening if these two get their act together, they are capable of taking apart any bowling attack in the world and bring any team to its knees. Trying to stop these Fantastico batsmen will be Reece Topley, the left arm seamer who finished as the highest wicket taker in the ODI series. He is capable of swing the ball and with the left armers angle might prove to be a handful for even De Kock and De Villiers!

Alex Hales and Joe Root Vs Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbott

Alex Hales and Joe Root had a super ODI series, with both of them scoring over 350 runs in the five match series and ending up one-two in the run chart. Hales scored 4 fifties and a ton while Root made a fifty and two tons. These two in form batsmen will be up against two in form bowlers, Rabada and Abbott, who were one of the main reasons why the Protea team could snatch the series 3-2 after being two down after the first two games! These two picked up regular wickets and kept the run scoring in check, they bowled with fire and aggression and conquered the entire English team expect Hales and Root. It promises to be another fascinating battle when they meet again, this time in the T20 format!

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes Vs David Wiese and Chris Morris

Jos Buttler started ODI series with a bang, making an audacious hundred and then cracking a 20 ball 40 odd to win the second ODI from the jaws of a defeat. Ben Stokes made a couple of attractive fifties of his own coming in life down while also picking up important wickets with the ball. But these two men also three ducks between them and thus let the game slip from the English point of view. Wiese and Morris played a key role in the Protea renaissance, picking up crucial wicket at important junctures of the match. They both are also hard hitting lower order batsmen who contributed in the ODI matches. Their battle with Stokes and Buttler will be intriguing and one to look out for!!

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The Fantastico 5 who made 3-2 Come-From-Behind Series Win against England Possible!!

South Africa were two down after the first two matches in the five match ODI series and needed some heroes who could stand up and be counted to avoid a home series loss. England was playing a very positive brand of cricket and the Protea's seemed to be having too many out of form players to match the English side.

But cometh the hour and cometh the men, let us look at the Fantastico 5 who put their hands up and made telling contributions that had a great impact on the series, turning it on its head, as South Africa went on to win the next three games in a row to complete a remarkable turnaround to win the series 3-2.

Kasigo Rabada

Kasigo Rabada did not play the first ODI match when South Africa was run ragged by Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes and England had made a huge 399 runs batting first. He returned from the second match and immediately made an impact. Although he failed to pick up any wicket in the second ODI, he was economical and remained a threat throughout. He took 4, 2 and 3 wickets respectively in the remaining three games to peg the English back with important strikes. The two times that Buttler made a first ball duck, it was Rabada who managed to snaffle him. He played a key role in the reversal of South Africa’s fortune.

Kyle Abbott

Like Rabada, Abbott too did not play the first match but when he returned from the second ODI, he immediately gave a more threatening and penetrative look to the African bowling. He always pulled the burgeoning English run rate back with his accurate bowling while also taking important wickets. In all, he took 8 wickets in the four matches and along with Rabada, who took 9, played a decisive part in the Protea win.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla

Quinton de Kock nearly helped the South African team chase down Mt. 399 with his audacious hitting when he made 138* off just 96 balls in the first ODI as wickets fell around him and before the rain ultimately had the final say in deciding the fate of the match. De Kock was at it again in the third ODI when, chasing 319 to win the match, he made a Fantastico 135 off just 117 balls to kill the chase along with Hashim Amla, who also made a ton (127 off 130 balls). De Kock and Amla played a big role in the turnaround with their 239 run partnership in the third ODI and they finished with 326 and 196 runs respectively in the series.

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers was not in the best of the form, at least not by his lofty standards, as he struggled for the usual fluency and flair that he is known for. Still, he made 218 runs in the series at an average of almost 73 and it was in the last ODI, with the series locked 2-2 and England very much in the ascendency having reduced South Africa to 22-3 after setting them 237 to win, that he played an innings of high class under immense pressure. He restrained his natural hitting instincts and made an absolute gem of a hundred to guide the chase home and bring home the trophy!!

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4 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 4th ODI between Eng and SA

It has been a closely fought series between South Africa and England so far with England being the marginally better team of the two and now the fourth ODI at Johannesburg promises another tight game with plenty of sub plots and internal battles which will have a close impact on the outcome of the match.

4 Fantastico Battles that could have an Impact on the 4th ODI:

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla Vs Reece Topley and David Willey

The two left arm fast bowlers for England have performed admirably well in all the three ODI matches so far and they have given England the control at the start of the innings. Both of them bowled economically in the first ODI when an avalanche of runs were being scored and Topley followed it up with a four wicket haul in the second game. Even in the third match, the two gave away only 30 in the first five overs before de Kock and Amla opened their arms and launched their attack. De Kock and Amla will try to continue from where they left and it will certainly be a good battle between two in-form batsmen up against two bowlers who have been bowling well.

Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers Vs Adil Rashid

Faf has been hitting the ball sweetly and De Villiers, even though he has not been at his fluent best, has still managed a half century in the series. Both these players are superb players of spin and can easily unsettle the line and lengths of a slower bowler with their use of feet, quick hands and unconventional shots. But Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have held their own amidst all the onslaught. While Moeen picked up a three wicket haul in the first match including Du Plessis and De Villiers, Rashid picked up Du Plessis in the second while both of them went at only around for runs to the over, stagnating the Protea middle order. It will a lip smacking battle between two excellent players of spin and two good spinners in the middle overs.

Alex Hales and Joe Root Vs Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbott

Hales has made three half centuries in the series while Root has a 50 and a 100 to his name from the three matches that have been played. Rabada and Abbott did not play the first game when England managed to score 399 but the addition of these two has given the Protea attack much needed teeth and grit. Abbott picked up a 3 fer in the second ODI, Rabada went at less than 4 runs per over thus creating the pressure, while both of them picked up two wickets each at Centurion to restrict England greatly during the death overs.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes Vs Imran Tahir

Jos Buttler kicked the series off in fine fashion with a 105 off just 76 balls and followed it up with a high impact 48* off just 28 balls. Stokes has been in hot form himself making 57 off 38 balls in the 1st game and making 53 off just 37 balls in the 3rd. Both of them have been responsible for giving England the late charge and they have been able to do so because Imran Tahir has been utterly hopeless against them. Tahir has leaked runs in all the matches, going at well over 7 runs per over and he will be keen to pull things back at Johannesburg.

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South Africa take on England at the Bullring in Johannesburg

It has been a close series thus far between South Africa and England, with the current ebbing and flowing with each passing over. The fourth ODI will be played at Johannesburg, a high scoring ground by tradition and batsmen from both sides will be licking their lips to have a crack here.

South Africa roared back in the series at Centurion chasing a huge total of 318 with relative ease, helped by Fantastico tons from Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla. Their batting has been humming with de Kock getting two big 100's in the 3 matches while Faf du Plessis has also made quick runs. De Villiers had a quiet start but made a well compiled 70 odd in the second match to lead South Africa to a decent total. The form of JP Duminy and Rilee Rossouw is a concern though as they have not looked convincing at all at the crease. It is because of them that South Africa is struggling in the death overs to hit quick runs.

The English batting line up has seen vital contributions from each member at some point in the series with Hales, Buttler and Stokes doing the major damage for them. Hales could not lay bat on ball in the test series but he's now made three half centuries on the trot including a match winning 99 he made on a slow pitch at Port Elizabeth. Buttler and Stokes have provided the fire with their aggressive stroke making while Root, their best batsman made a flamboyant ton in the last game albeit in a losing cause.

The South African bowling was run ragged in the first match but the addition of Kyle Abbott and Kasigo Rabada has made a huge difference and now it looks threatening and dangerous. Morne Morkel had been carrying the work load in the middle overs and doing it quite well. It is in the spin department that they seem to be severely hampered at the moment with Imran Tahir failing to create any impact on the English batsmen, giving runs whilst also not picking up wickets.

The English bowling, meanwhile have bowled well in patches but they will have to find an answer to de Kock who has had a vice like grip on them. Topley and Willey did extremely well in the first two ODI matches where they claimed early wickets and also were economical but in the third ODI they were unsettled by De Kock and Amla who forced them off their lengths with their stroke play. Stokes has also bowled well and got the important breakthroughs while Rashid and Ali have also bowled quite beautifully, keeping the runs down while also picking up wickets in the middle overs which had slowed down the Proteas admirably.

South Africa will again have to dig deep in their reserves and pull off a magical performance like they did in Centurion, in order to keep the series still alive. England have played a very attacking brand of cricket up until this moment and even though they lost at Centurion, they do not need to make any major changes to their game plan.

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Fantastico Tons from De Kock and Amla help South Africa Chase 318

Twin centuries from the Protea openers ensured that South Africa chased down a stiff target of 319 at a canter at Centurion which also kept series alive after England had won the opening two games.

England won the toss and chose to bat first, they were playing an unchanged side. South Africa brought in David Wiese for Rilee Rossouw to give them more bowling options. After Roy was run out in the 6th over, going for a suicidal run, Alex Hales and Joe Root combined to play solid but effective cricket adding 125 runs for the second wicket. Hales was eventually dismissed by Rabada for a well-made 65 off just 73 balls, his 3rd 50 on the trot in the series. Buttler, the hero for England with the bat in the previous ODI's, was promoted again to take charge but this time he was out for a first ball duck, caught by Duminy at leg gully off Rabada. Morgan struggled for 24 balls to notch up just 8 runs and it seemed that England would fall well short of a defensible total.

Root was slow to start off with and he struggled to time the ball but he has such a wide range of strokes and his temperament is so unflappable that he still seems to be able to collect runs at a fair clip. He combined with Ben Stokes to blast 82 off around 9 overs, the assault ending when Root was run out. His straight drive smacking into the stumps at the non-strikers end and in the confusion that ensued, de Kock and Wiese managed to catch him well short of his crease. But by this time Root had brought up his 7th ODI ton hitting the gaps with finesse and his 125 off 113 balls was his highest ODI score.

Stokes made a brilliant 53 off just 37 balls but it was Abbott who tightened the screws on England in the slog overs after Root's departure giving away very little. England eventually scrambled to 318 courtesy a couple of sixes from number 9 and 10, for the Proteas Abbott and Rabada picked up two wickets each while Morkel and Wiese picked one each.

De Kock has been in Fantastico form hitting a century in tests against them and then this being his 2nd of this ODI series. He was in punishing form just as he was in Bloemfontein where he had smacked an unbeaten 138* off just 96 balls before rain had halted his charge, here he made 135 off 117 balls. Cover drives, powerful pull shots, sweeps - he showed his full repertoire of shots and all this when combined with his natural gift of timing made for a stunning spectacle. It was his 10th ODI hundred in just his 55th match.

Then there was his senior opening partner, Hashim Amla, who had failed in the first two matches and he returned to form with a graceful century of his own. He played all of his trade mark shots - the flick off the pads through mid-wicket, glorious cover drives and those wristy square cuts. He made 127 off 130 deliveries and by the time he got out in the 46th over the chase was well and truly dusted.

The South Africans chased the huge total at a canter with the help of Fantastico tons from their openers and kept the ODI series alive with the highest successful chase at Centurion.

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Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 3rd ODI between Eng and SA

South Africa are two nil down in the five match series and need their senior players to urgently step up and be counted. England are a young and peppy side full of players with a fresh attitude towards cricket and their uninhibited style of play has meant that England are on the verge of winning the series against a very good ODI side like South Africa with matches in hand. The carnival has moved to Centurion and the Protea team will be hoping that the venue brings better news for them at the beginning of a new week.

3 Fantastico Battles that could have an Impact in the 3rd ODI:

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock Vs Reece Topley and David Willey

Amla had has a very quiet series after he finished on a high in the Test series. In both the ODI's he had been out bowled, once each by the two young new ball English bowlers. He will be keen to prove that the low scores were only a blip and will want to boss the new comers. De Kock has been in fine form and his Fantastico 138* off just 96 balls almost won them the game in Bloemfontein before rain intervened but even in that high scoring encounter the English new ball bowlers were economical. Topley picked up 4 wickets in the last match which pegged the South African’s back in the final 10 overs and he will be hoping to repeat his performance.

Jos Buttler Vs Morne Morkel

Although the entire English team has contributed in its two victories but Buttler has been the major difference between the two sides. His audacious ton in Bloemfontein meant that England racked up a mammoth 399 batting first while in the second match he smashed a 48* off 28 balls to kill the chase and bring the game home that was threatening to go in South Africa's favour. Morne Morkel is one bowler who is experienced and with his extra height and pace rattle Buttler. Morkel was the most economical of the South African bowlers in the 2nd ODI going at under 4 to the over while he also scalped two crucial wickets. He will have to step up for South Africa and try to stop Buttler from taking the game away with his peppy stroke play.

AB de Villiers Vs Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali

De Villiers has been a little unlucky in the two matches as he was caught brilliantly by Stokes on the boundary at Bloemfontein while it was Jordan who snaffled an absolute blinder at Port Elizabeth. De Villiers will be hoping that the rub off the green goes his way at Centurion. He batted well to score a 70 odd in the last game on a pitch that was slow and tired but got out just when he was beginning to open up his shoulders. He was out to Ali in the first match and was slowed by the two spinners in the second. AB is a Fantastico player of slow bowling and it remains to be seen how long the English spin duo can keep the champion South African batsman quiet.

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South Africa Search for the Winning Concoction

England Vs South Africa, 3rd ODI at Centurion - Match Preview

Two matches in to the ODI series and South Africa are already in grave danger of losing the series and they will need to step up if they are to stop England winning at Centurion. Not that there has been too much to choose between the two sides as South Africa were in with a chance to scale down the mammoth 399 set by England at Bloemfontein, and then again when England slid to 202-5 in the 42nd over at Port Elizabeth chasing 263 on a sluggish pitch. It is just that England have grabbed the important moments better and currently seem to be playing an licentious brand of cricket helping them cross the line.

Jason Roy and Alex Hales have given solid starts to England in both the matches and they will look to carry on with their good form at the top of the order. Root was slow at Port Elizabeth as he struggled to come to terms with the slow pitch but he still made runs. England's most impact player is Jos Buttler, who has the confidence to tear in to any bowling line up at the moment and he is doing just that in this series. He made a superb 105 off just 76 balls in the first ODI and then followed it up with a 48* off just 28 balls on a difficult pitch under pressure. They also have Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali who are all attacking players and can grind any attack in to the dust.

On the other hand the Protea batting line up seems too dependent on just a few players and with Hashim Amla not firing in both the matches the pressure on the middle order is all too consuming. Quinton de Kock made that splendid ton in the losing cause in the first ODI and Faf has had two good innings at number three and these two will need to carry on. AB de Villiers was snaffled on both occasions to Fantastico catches and he will hope that he gets third time lucky. Duminy, Rossouw and Behardien have all had a sub-standard series up until now as South Africa have lacked the finishing touches in the death overs.

The English bowling too seems to be having a greater depth and variety with spin options in Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali doing the damage in the second match. Reece Topley and David Willey have been economical and have picked up wickets as well so there is no reason for the English to consider making any changes unless they want to bring in Woakes for Jordan who has been the most expensive of English bowlers.

Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbott replaced Merchant de Lange and Chris Morris for the second match and they both immediately made a difference, transforming an ordinary looking bowling side in to a more penetrating one. Morne Morkel has also been at his best but it is the combination of Imran Tahir, JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien that has been hurting them the most.

South Africa will be looking to get a win under their belt to keep the series still alive and they have the ammunition to do so but the confidence and the swagger that the English are currently playing with is just making their job that bit harder.

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Hales, Buttler Power England to Consecutive Wins

After the high scoring affair at Bloemfontein where England powered to 399 before de Kock put South Africa on course for a victory only to be denied by the rain and D/L method, Port Elizabeth promised a much more sedate affair with the slow pitch on offer.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first after making two changes, Rabada and Abbott coming in for Morris and de Lange which surely bolstered their bowling attack.

In the first ODI, Amla was bowled off Willey and this time it was Topley who got through his defences to get him for just four. South Africa scored only 12 in the first six overs but then both de Kock and du Plessis got on with it and South Africa were on 52-1 after 10. De Kock went leg before to Stokes after losing a review for 22 off 33 balls while du Plessis fell just short of his half century falling to one from Rashid that gripped and turned to take the edge. Du Plessis made 46 from 48 balls and South Africa were 98-3 in 20 overs. By this time Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid had turned the squeeze on, South Africa ambling to 135-3 after 30 overs.

It was a slow surface with the ball coming on after holding in the pitch a bit and hence made timing difficult. Even the highly skilled AB de Villiers was finding the navigation on this pitch difficult, reaching 65 off 87 balls with just four boundaries. He broke the shackles when he smashed a six off Jordan but when he tried to repeat the shot off Stokes, Jordan pulled off a blinder catching a steepler over his shoulders. When Duminy and Rossouw fell in successive Topley overs, South Africa had lost whatever hopes they would have had of having a late burst. In the end they could only muster 64-4 in the last 10 to reach 262-7 in their 50 overs.

Jason Roy started brightly again but his innings was cut short by a full in ducker that rattled his stumps, Abbott doing the damage. The already slow pitch was getting slower and batting was getting more and more difficult, England reached their hundred only in the 23rd over. Root was out there adjusting to the pitch and he made a painful 38 off 64 balls before Abbott cleaned him up too with the help of an inside edge. English skipper Eoin Morgan was sprightlier in his 29 off 28 balls before he was caught by de Villiers off Morkel. Morkel then got Stokes as well, cleaning him up off an inside edge for nought, after he had survived a leg before appeal off Tahir with the help of DRS.

England needed 65 off the final ten overs with a well set Hales at the crease and Jos Buttler just joining him. Hales gloved a catch to de Kock off the impressive Abbott to fall for 99 made off 124 balls but the hero of the first match for England Jos Buttler biffed 3 fours off the 44th over and then clobbered 3 sixes off the 46th to kill the chase. He made a peppy 48* off just 28 balls on a difficult pitch, on which no batsmen from either side could come to terms with.

So, the English side is 2-0 up in the 5 match series and how the Protea team responds to this situation will be interesting to see in the next week. England have looked very good so far and South Africa will have their task cut out if they are to salvage something out of this series.

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Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 2nd ODI between Eng and SA

South Africa and England will go head to head again at Port Elizabeth tomorrow in the second ODI match of the five match series. They will be keen to stage a quick turnaround in this series as a loss in the second match would mean that they would need to win all of the last three games to take the series. After rain spoiled the first match just as it was shaping towards a close finish, the second will once again provide a lot of sub-battles which will decide the course of the match.

4 Fantastico Battles to look out for in the 2nd ODI:

Alex Hales and Jason Roy Vs Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbot

Alex Hales and Jason Roy were the catalysts who provided the early thrust and the platform for the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to have a crack at the South African bowlers after they had helped England race to 70 off only 8 overs. Chris Morris and Merchant de Lange were the opening bowlers who suffered gravely at the hands of these two and I feel that the South African think tank might opt for the in-form Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbot in their place. Hitting Rabada and Abbot might not prove to be so easy for the English openers and it will be a fascinating duel to watch.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes Vs Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir

It was Buttler whose enterprising ton put England on the way of a huge total and it was Ben Stokes whose 57 off only 38 balls ultimately got them there. In the absence of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel is the most experienced of the Protea bowlers and along with Imran Tahir the most capable of halting a rampaging Buttler and Stokes. Both of these men traveled at over 7 runs an over and will need to step up on it if South Africa have any intention of levelling the series.

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock Vs David Willey and Reece Topley

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock had been exceptional in the last test of the for test series that preceded the ODI matches and while Amla fell cheaply to Willey, de Kock was brutal and played a peppy knock off 138* off just 96 balls which almost powered the South Africans to a famous win. Amla will need to be at his serene best and combine with de Kock to lay the platform from which the likes of de Villiers, du Plessis, Duminy and Rossouw can prosper.

Ab de Villiers Vs Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali

De Villiers came in to the last match after making three consecutive ducks and he was just hitting his straps when, in an attempt to get South Africa closer to the D/L score, he was caught by Stokes off Ali at the boundary. De Villiers will be itching to get a good score under his belt and the law of the averages suggests that he might be in for a big one here. He's a brilliant player of spin bowling and getting out to a part timer might just be the extra motivation he needs to get his old touch back. His battle with Rashid and Ali in the middle overs will be riveting to watch.

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South Africa Keen to Stage a Quick Comeback

England Vs South Africa, 2nd ODI at Port Elizabeth - Match Preview

An energized English outfit will look to continue their ascendancy as they face off with the South African side at Port Elizabeth. The current England side are a pale shadow of what they were in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 when they cut a sorry figure with no flair and lacked imagination.

This current side bears almost no resemblance and is a much improved upgraded version that has fixed a lot of bugs and removed all the malware that was slowing their system down. This is a young and peppy side, full of new faces who play cricket fearlessly and who are not scared to play shots which find no mention in the MCC coaching manuals.

Alex Hales, a man who cut a sorry figure in the test matches looks a changed man in the ODI format. Hales, along with the sprightly Jason Roy, now provide English with a flying start. Joe Root has been a rock at number three and he is their most complete batsman, adept at either attacking play or at adopting a much calmer approach. Then there is Jos Buttler, who has thrilled the English fans with his uninhibited stroke-play. He was the man who smashed 105 in just 76 balls in the first ODI and set up the game for them.

The lower middle order also has accomplished batsmen who are naturally attacking players. Eoin Morgan, the captain of this side slots in at 5. Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali come in at 6 and 7 to complete the riot act. This batting line up might not come off every time and will surely fail, even combust on bad days but when they fire on their good ones, rarely will the English team lose.

The South African batting, on the other hand revolved around Quinton de Kock in the first ODI when his sublime 138* off just 96 balls almost managed to nudge the Proteas towards the victory before their charge was halted by rain. Faf also batted aggressively after having a horrid in the tests against India and England.

But South Africa will depend heavily upon Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers to bail them out on most occasions and these two players will have to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility in tough situations.

The bowling from both the sides left much to be desired at Bloemfontein as batsmen played the lead role throughout the match. Kyle Abbot might be brought in for Merchant de Lange who went for 87 in his 10 overs. Kasigo Rabada, the bowler who has made the most impact for South Africa recently, also waits in the wings and he might swap places with Morris.

England might not tinker with their bowling line up yet, but they do have Chris Woakes and Steven Finn waiting in the wings for any chance. Chris Jordan was tonked in the first ODI and he went for 56 in his 5.3 overs and he might be a good candidate for replacement.

The five match series is perfectly set up and a Protean comeback cannot be ruled out. Rain halted the South African charge mid-way and full game might have resulted in a different winner!

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Buttler Serves England a Win on the Platter in Bloemfontein

English captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided that England will bat first on a surface that looked full of runs under the Bloemfontein Sun. Jason Roy, who had been in some doubt for this match was declared for to play and James Taylor missed out. For South Africa, their rising star bowler Kasigo Rabada was rested in an attempt to manage his work load and speedster Merchant De Lange was brought in his place.

Jason Roy and Alex Hales both started in a hurry and teed off from the very first over. The English 50 came up in only the 6th over with Roy doing most of the damage. Morne Morkel was brought in as first change for De Lange and he immediately got the breakthrough that the Proteas were desperate for. Roy was out for a blistering 48 off just 30 balls. Root and Hales then began to serenely compile the runs as the 100 came up in the 15th over. Hales broke loose a bit as he neared his fifty and he got out as soon as he got there, De Lange getting him for 57 off 47 balls.

Jos Buttler, the man who hit the fastest ODI hundred for the English against Pakistan recently came in and continued from where he had left over two months ago. Cracking cover drives, lifted shots over long on, reverse sweeps and powerful pull shots, Jos was in his elements and showing his full range. On the other hand Root, playing in the shadow of his more attacking teammates calmly reached another half century off his own, this one taking just 52 balls.

Once Root got out, Stokes came in and played the role of a side-kick perfectly. The two of them motored along and Buttler brought up a fine hundred, off just 73 balls. He got out in the 43rd over for a classy 105 off 76 balls. Stokes, 21 off 23 balls until then, came into his own after the dismissal of Buttler. He made 57 off 38 balls and cameos from Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan ensured that the English side fell just short off the 400 run mark, finishing eventually on 399.

Amla fell early in the chase getting bowled out to David Wiley for just 6. But Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock both played percentage innings taking toll of anything loose to power South Africa to 72-1 after the 10 over mark. Faf brought up his fifty off just 37 balls and de Kock reached there too off the same number of deliveries.

Moeen Ali, then turned the course of the game when he first had Faf caught at deep mid-wicket off Hales and AB de Villiers was then snapped up by a Fantastico one handed grab by Stokes at the long-on boundary. On the other hand de Kock was in full flow, carving boundaries and slamming sixes at will. He brought up a lovely hundred off just 67 balls. When Duminy was foxed by a slower ball from Topley South Africa were 197-4 in the 26th over. Ali also took out Rilee Rossouw in the 33rd over just before the heavens opened up. The rain did not relent and de Kock was left stranded on 138* off just 96 balls as South Africa fell short by 39 runs on the D/L method. It was a great day of cricket spoiled by rain but we were still witness to two of the most peppy tons scored in recent times.

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Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 1st ODI between Eng and SA at Bloemfontein.

After securing the test match series 2-1, England will look to topple the South Africans in the ODI format of the game when the two teams clash at Bloemfontein for the 1st ODI in the 5 match series. With the WT20 on the horizon, both teams will be looking to get their machinery humming for the mega event by putting a good show in the shorter formats of the game.

Let us look at the 4 Fantastico Battles that could have an impact on the game.

Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock Vs English New Ball Pair

With no Anderson and Broad, the English new bowling pair of David Willey and Reece Topley will have a huge task on their hands when they will run in to bowl at the in-form Protea duo of Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock. Amla made 109 and 96 in the last test which helped South Africa secure a draw while De Kock also helped himself to a ton. The English bowlers will have to ensure that they maintain a tight line and length to the openers and not let them get away early.

AB De Villiers Vs Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid

AB De Villiers slammed the fastest ODI hundred off just 31 balls against a hapless West Indies side at around time time last year but he will come in to this match with three consecutive ducks behind him. Ben Stokes, the enterprising English all-rounder will look to get De Villiers out cheaply again. Adil Rashid, the leg break bowler, who has been playing in the BBL05 and has had quite a good tournament will be looking forward to getting De Villiers out if he bowls to him.

Moeen Ali and Joe Root Vs Kasigo Rabada

Kasigo Rabada wreaked havoc on the English batting line up in the last test with a ten wicket haul and he has been the rising star for the South Africans in the last year. His battle upfront with an attacking Moeen Ali and an in form Joe Root will be the one to watch out for and it could also decide how much England can get on the flat Bloemfontein track. Rabada will probably have to battle fatigue as well as he has been playing continuously for South Africa since last year.

Ben Stokes Vs Imran Tahir

Ben Stokes was the player of the series for England in the recently concluded 4 test series where he contributed with both bat and ball regularly. His brutal 258 off just 198 balls in the second test was the highlight of the 4 match test series. How he tackles the maverick leg spinner Imran Tahir in the middle overs can have a huge impact on the game. With Tahir possessing all the variations, hitting him might not be as easy for Stokes.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.