Jade Dernbach marked his return to England duty with three wickets, including the prize scalp of Hashim Amla, in a four-wicket win over his native South Africa in the third one-day international (ODI) at The Oval.
Dernbach, recalled in place of Tim Bresnan, took three for 44 in nine overs on his Surrey home ground on Friday as South Africa were dismissed for a below-par 211 with 20 balls of their innings left.
Fellow seamer James Anderson took four for 44 in 9.4 overs, including a spell of three for one in eight balls that polished off the tail to help set up a win — England’s first over the Proteas this season in any format — that leveled the five-match series at 1-1.
Photo: AFP
England slumped to 64 for three in reply before a fourth-wicket partnership of 108 between former South Africa youth international Jonathan Trott (71) and ex-Ireland left-hander Eoin Morgan (73) punished the tourists for not making enough runs after winning the toss.
Amla was again South Africa’s top scorer, as he had been while making a masterful 150 in the Proteas’ 80-run victory at Southampton on Tuesday.
However, his return to the ground where last month he became the first South Africa batsman to score a Test match triple century saw him dismissed by Dernbach for just 43.
South Africa made a steady start after winning the toss, with Amla and Graeme Smith sharing an opening partnership of 50.
However, Smith was bowled by Anderson for 18 after the left-hander charged down the pitch.
England then got Amla, a thorn in their side all season, out relatively cheaply when Dernbach produced a full-length delivery that nipped back and bowled him off the inside edge.
James Tredwell, replacing rested fellow off-spinner Graeme Swann, took two for 49 as both South Africa captain A.B. de Villiers and J.P. Duminy holed out when well set.
Dean Elgar, in only his second innings at this level, made 42 until bowled by a clever slower ball from Dernbach, who last played for England in an ODI against Australia in July, that completely deceived the left-hander.
Dernbach, born in Johannesburg but who arrived in England as a schoolboy, struck again when Wayne Parnell edged to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international.
Ian Bell was LBW to recalled fast bowler Dale Steyn, included after being rested from the first two matches, to leave England 14 for one.
England one-day, and now Test, captain Alastair Cook took 18 balls to get off the mark before clipping Lonwabo Tsotsobe off his pads for four.
However, the left-hander carelessly lofted spinner Robin Peterson to Elgar, running round from deep mid-wicket, on 20.
And 61 for two became 64 for three when Ravi Bopara was caught behind for a duck by wicketkeeper De Villiers off fast-bowler Morne Morkel.
Trott took 86 balls over his 50, with just two fours, but prevented further collapse while Morgan, who lofted left-arm spinner Elgar for the first six of the match during a 54-ball fifty, ensured the innings did not stagnate.
Man-of-the-match Morgan, known as as one-day “finisher,” later advanced down the pitch to cover-drive Tsotsobe for an impressive six high over long-off before he skyed a return catch to Peterson.
Trott was out with five needed for victory when caught behind off left-arm quick Parnell.
The series continues across London at Lord’s today.
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