ENG vs SA 2025, 2nd ODI Review: Breetzke, Burger star as Proteas bag series

Published - 05 Sept 2025, 10:47 IST | Updated - 05 Sept 2025, 11:32 IST

South Africa won the second ODI by five runs at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Thursday, September 4, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field first. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton played some aggressive cricket and added 73 runs inside the first 14 overs before England bounced back strongly, taking three wickets in quick succession. At the end of 19 overs, the Proteas had 93 runs on the board.

Markram was dismissed one run short of a half-century, sent packing by Adil Rashid. That is when Matthew Breetzke joined forces with Tristan Stubbs as the two young batters played with flair, adding 147 off just 126 balls. Jofra Archer broke the stunning partnership, getting the better of Breetzke for a 77-ball 85.

A couple of overs later, South Africa lost their other set batter, Stubbs, for 58. The tourists needed a strong finish and Dewald Brevis stepped up, as he smashed 42 off just 20 balls with three fours and as many sixes while Corbin Bosch remained not out on 32 off 29 balls to take South Africa to 330/8 in their 50 overs. Archer was the pick of the bowlers for the Three Lions, finishing with figures of 4/62 in 10 overs.

Nandre Burger drew first blood for South Africa with the first ball of the innings as Jamie Smith was dismissed for a golden duck. Ben Duckett played an uncharacteristic knock, scoring just 14 off 33 balls before getting dismissed by Keshav Maharaja.

Joe Root played a fluent knock of 61 off 72 balls before being stumped off Maharaj while Bethell smashed his way to 58 off just 40 as England kept the required run rate within reach. However, Root and Bethell were dismissed in consecutive overs as South Africa roared back into the contest.

Jos Buttler and Brook added 69 runs off 70 balls for the fifth wicket to give England hopes of a comeback but Brook failed to make his start count, throwing his wicket away after scoring 33 off 40 balls. Buttler scored a fantastic half-century but Lungi Ngidi sent him packing for a 51-ball 61.

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Will Jacks (39 off 33 balls) and Archer (27* off 14 balls) kept the run-chase alive. England needed seven runs off the final ball with Archer on strike. Senuran Muthusamy bowled a slot ball, but the England seamer failed to send it over the ropes as England were restricted to 325/9, losing by just five runs. Nandre Burger bagged a three-for, while Maharaj got two wickets. Bosch finished with economical figures of 1/38 in 10 overs.

This is only the second time that England lost a bilateral ODI series to South Africa at home. Their previous defeat against the Rainbow Nation at home was in 1998.