England fail to change record in Lord's loss

HIGHEST CHASE BEYOND HOSTS IN SERIES DEFEAT

- By Neil Squires

ENGLAND crashed to back-to-back defeats against South Africa as the Proteas clinched the ODI series with a game to spare at Lord’s.

It was an improved performance - with the bat at least — after the dismal effort at Headingley on Tuesday but what would have been a record run chase in a Lord’s ODI ultimately proved just beyond the hosts.

England fell five runs short of South Africa’s 330, despite half-centuries from Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Jos Buttler.

Jofra Archer gave it a late lash, but needing six off the last ball to take the game to a Super Over, the No.9 could only manage a single.