Shattered England prove real fall guys

ENGLAND suffered a double-quick drubbing as they were blown away by South Africa in the opening ODI at Headingley.

- By Neil Squires

A criminally slack batting performance, topped off by a horrible run out which cost them the wicket of captain Harry Brook, caused England to crash to defeat with almost 30 overs to spare.

From 102-3, England lost their last seven wickets for 29 runs in the space of just 44 balls. They did not even make the halfway point of their innings.

In reply, South Africa, kick-started by Aiden Markram’s rapid 86, passed the total with one ball of the 21st over remaining for the loss of just three wickets. Two of those fell with the scores level.

Tt was, frankly, a humiliation for England and a huge disappointment for a sellout crowd.

South Africa were razor-sharp in all facets of the game but mentally England were just not at the races. They looked lost in Leeds.