ODI Match Report | South Africa (330-8) beat England (325-9)

England's poor form in white-ball cricket continues.

South Africa sealed the series with a game to spare after edging England by five runs in the second one-day international.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium | Lord's Cricket Ground

This was a far closer contest than the heavy defeat at Headingley on Tuesday, yet the scoreline disguised how much control the tourists held.

A closer look at what happened

Chasing 331, which would have been the highest successful pursuit in an ODI at Lord’s, England closed on 325 for nine. The loss marks their first series defeat since Harry Brook took charge of the white-ball side at the start of the summer, and their fifth in six series since the 2023 World Cup.

On a damp afternoon, England chose to field and had South Africa 93 for three before Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs rebuilt with composed half-centuries. Breetzke made 85 and Stubbs 58, while Dewald Brevis’ rapid 42 from 20 balls carried the visitors to 330 for eight. Jofra Archer impressed with four wickets, but the 10 overs of spin shared by Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks leaked 112 runs.

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England’s reply faltered immediately when Jamie Smith was dismissed first ball and Ben Duckett struggled for a scratchy 14. Bethell’s fluent 58 and Joe Root’s 61 revived the chase and left England well placed at 143 for two, only for both to fall in quick succession. Bethell cut to point before Root was stumped by a distance, two blows that shifted the momentum decisively.

From that point, England’s innings never recovered its rhythm. Jos Buttler top-scored with 61, while Brook added 33 and Jacks 39, none able to take charge of the chase. Archer kept the contest alive with a spirited late effort, taking the game into the final over alongside last man Saqib Mahmood. With 16 required, spinner Senuran Muthusamy held his nerve, and Archer could not clear the ropes from the final ball that would have forced a tie.

England now face the prospect of a clean sweep, with only Sunday’s dead rubber at Southampton offering the chance to avoid a first home ODI whitewash since 2006.

England need to avoid developing a losing habit

England were improved on their Headingley showing, though that is faint praise. They have now managed only three wins in their last 12 one-day internationals, all of them against a modest West Indies side in May.

The side looks caught between two extremes: players running on empty after a punishing summer, and others who appear undercooked in a format that has slipped down the pecking order.

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More troubling was how quickly the balance of the team was exposed. The formula that looked solid against the West Indies unravelled against South Africa.

Rehan Ahmed Bethell and Will Jacks were asked to combine as a fifth bowler, but their 10 overs of spin were ruthlessly targeted by the Proteas. The lack of a reliable seam-bowling all-rounder was glaring. Jamie Overton has yet to be used, Sam Curran is out of favour and Ben Stokes’ white-ball future remains uncertain as he battles injury.

Brendon McCullum has overseen considerable crossover between Test and white-ball squads, and with only limited-overs cricket to be played before the Ashes, the challenge is clear. England need to prevent defeat from becoming a damaging habit before the first Test in Perth in November.