Archer and Stokes star as England win WC opener

Imran Tahir first spinner to bowl first over in a World Cup

Ben Stokes plays a shot 

England crushed South Africa by 104 runs to win the first match of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup at the Oval in London yesterday.
The home side made 311 for eight in their 50 overs, with Ben Stokes top scoring with 89.

In reply, South Africa were dismissed for 207 in 39.5 overs with England paceman Jofra Archer claiming three wickets.

South Africa star batsman Hashim Amla came back out to bat after retiring hurt having been hit by a Archer bouncer in a bid to rally his side after a collapse. 

Amla had made five when he missed an intended pull off the fast bowler, the ball crashing into his helmet after he was beaten for sheer speed. 
He had several minutes of on-field treatment before walking off. The Proteas were then 14 without loss in the fourth over. 

While he was in the dressing room, the Proteas collapsed, with Archer taking three wickets.

With the score on 167 for six in the 32nd over, Amla returned after being cleared to resume his innings by the Tournament Medical Director.
Amla was caught behind by Jos Buttler off the bowling of Liam Plunkett 

for 13. Earlier, England were restricted to 311 for eight after being asked to bat first by South Africa.

They were in a strong position at 213 for three at one stage with Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes all making fifties. 
However, only Stokes went on to make a bigger contribution. 

Lungi Ngidi was the most successful bowler for South Africa, overcoming two bad spells to take three wickets at the death. 
England’s start was on the wrong footing. Jonny Bairstow was back in the hut almost as soon as the World Cup got underway. 

Francois du Plessis bucked the World Cup trend by bringing on a spinner to bowl the first over. 

Imran Tahir wrote down the record against his name, and only two balls later he had Bairstow edging behind off the second ball of the game. 
That brought Jason Roy and Joe Root together, and saw England enjoy the first of the two 100-run partnerships of the innings. 

The right-handers ensured they did not let the early setback dampen them, as they set the pace with regular boundaries and smart running between the wickets. 
England breached the 100-run mark in the 18th over but they suffered a double blow almost immediately after. 

Immediately after Jason Roy fell to Andile Phehlukwayo, du Plessis brought on Kagiso Rabada, who had Root caught at point. 

Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes kept England’s momentum going with another strong stand. Stokes was the calmer of the duo, but opened up at the right time, hitting Dwayne Pretorius for three fours in the 36th over and bringing up his fifty. 

At the end of that over England were well placed and 350 looked well within their reach. But South Africa once again clawed back.

 (Agencies)