Bell shines briefly in rain-ruined ODI opener
|
UMPIRES CALL IT A DAY ...Umpire’s Kumar Dharmasena (R) and
Richard Kettleborough walk off after rain stops play during
the first one day international cricket match between
England and South Africa at Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales
on Friday. AFP
|
CRICKET: CARDIFF, Aug 25 (AFP) - England's Ian Bell shone before rain
washed out the first one-day international against South Africa at
Cardiff on Friday.
Only 5.3 overs were bowled, after an initial delay of several hours,
following South Africa captain AB de Villiers's decision to field first.
England were 37 for no wicket when fresh rain finished off the match
with opener Bell 26 not out off 18 balls, including two sixes and two
fours.
Alastair Cook, England's one-day captain, was 10 not out.
|
England’s Ian Bell (L) makes a big hit during the first one
day international cricket match between England and South
Africa at Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Friday. Bell
made 26 not out in total of 37 for no wicket. AFP |
Fast bowler Morne Morkel's three overs cost 19 runs and left-arm
paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe conceded 18 in 2.3. Just days after South
Africa dethroned England as the world's top-ranked Test side, following
a 51-run win at Lord's, they arrived in Cardiff knowing a 2-2 draw or
any kind of series victory in this five-match contest would see them
replace their hosts at the summit of the one-day standings too.
No sooner had Morkel opened proceedings with a legside wide, then the
umpires - in a match already reduced to 23 overs per side - took the
players off to a chorus of boos from a frustrated crowd before
re-emerging minutes later.
When play resumed, left-hander Cook - who had led England to wins in
their last 10 completed one-dayers - struck Tsotsobe through the covers
for four.
Bell, not included in England's squad for the defence of their World
Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka next month, then produced a couple of
extraordinary shots. He went down the pitch to loft Morkel for six over
the legside and, three balls later, advancing to drive him for another
superb six over mid-off.
In all 16 runs came off the fifth over. There was just time for Bell
to flick another boundary, off Tsotsobe, before more rain saw the match,
in which South Africa batsman Dean Elgar was making his debut,
abandoned.
England wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, who opens in Twenty20s and
was a member of the side that won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean
two years ago, praised Bell's innings by saying: "The way Belly played
was pretty outstanding."
The series continues at Southampton on Tuesday.
|
