England justified their tag as favourites in the first match of the World Cup as they thrashed South Africa by 104 runs at the Oval on Thursday. Despite losing opener Jonny Bairstow early, England managed to triumph and give Proteas a big target of 312 runs. Ben Stokes was the star of the show with the bat as he smashed 89 runs off just 79 balls.
Then they bowled out South Africa for just 207 runs to emerge victorious at the Oval. Stokes was again impressive with the ball as he picked up 2 wickets while pulling off one of the greatest catches in World Cup history. Legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was also impressed by England’s display against the Proteas, saying that the hosts showed fight after losing Bairstow early.
“This England side doesn’t fold easily and after Jonny Bairstow went, they never panicked, dug in and played some really good cricket,” Kallis wrote in a column for the ICC.
“In the past, you might have seen England struggle but they are a powerful unit and that performance was a very good sign for them.
Kallis also lavished praise on the catch that Stokes took against South Africa, admitting that it will live long in the memory of the cricketing fans.
“Obviously, Ben Stokes’s catch will get the headlines and rightly so, it was absolutely magnificent, one that will certainly live long in the memory.”
England will now take on a struggling Pakistan side on 3 June at Trent Bridge.
