PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — England opener Alex Hales fell one short of a second One-Day International century as his team completed a comfortable five- wicket victory over South Africa Saturday.
The host won the toss in the second game of the series and posted 262 for seven in their 50 overs on a slow wicket that produced nothing like the run-fest of Bloemfontein three days earlier.
Hales took England close to its target with a patient 99 from 124 balls as they reached 263 for five from 46.2 overs.
The touring side now leads the five-match series 2-0 with the third game in Pretoria Tuesday.
AB de Villiers returned to form as he top-scored for South Africa's with 73 from 91 balls, supported by Faf du Plessis (46) and JP Duminy (47).
Seamer Reece Topley recorded career-best bowling figures for England of 4-50 from nine overs, including the early scalp of Hashim Amla (4).
England lost opener Jason Roy (14) early in their reply, but Hales, usually an explosive opening batsman, played an innings of accumulation rather than brute force, scoring just eight boundaries.
He fell one shy of his ton when he was caught by South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Kyle Abbott after the ball brushed his glove.
England still needed 61 to win but were steered home by an excellent 48 not out from 28 deliveries by Jos Buttler.
He was ably supported by Moeen Ali (21 not out) as the pair put on 61 in just five overs against the wilting home attack to turn a tense run chase into a stroll.
Abbott, restored to the South African side after injury, was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-58 from nine overs.
Scores:
South Africa 262-7 (Q. de Kock 22, F. du Plessis 46, A. de Villiers 73, J. Duminy 47, F. Behardien 23 not out;
Topley 4-50, Stokes 2-54). England 263-5 (A. Hales 99, J. Root 38, E. Morgan 29, J. Buttler 48 not out, M. Ali 21 not out; Abbott 3-58, Morkel 2-31).
Gladiators win again
Ahmed Shehzad's stroke-filled 71 and his 92-run opening partnership with Luke Wright (47) eased Quetta Gladiators to an eight-wicket win over Karachi Kings. They chased down a target of 148 with 16 balls to spare, notching up their second big victory in as many games.
Earlier, lack of partnerships at the top of the order stalled Karachi's innings after it was put in to bat. James Vince was the only one in the top four to get to a start, accumulating a 33-ball 30, before a rapid partnership of 69 for the fifth wicket between Ravi Bopara (40) and Shoaib Malik (37) gave the innings some impetus.
Scores: Karachi Kings 147-7 (J. Vince 30, S. Malik 37, Bopara 40 — A. Ali 2-33, M. Nabi 2-32) lost to Quetta Gladiators 153-2 in 17.2 overs (L. Wright 47, A. Shehzad 71, K. Pietersen 29 not out).
A skilful bowling performance by the left-arm duo of Mohammad Asghar and Wahab Riaz sealed Peshawar Zalmi’s 24-run win against Islamad United in a late match of PSL Friday.
Scores: Zalmi 145-7 (T. Iqbal 51 — Russell 3-31) beat United 121-9 (Watson 28, Billings 26 — M. Asghar 3-20, W. Riaz 3-23, Tait 2-24). — Agencies
Caption:
England's Alex Hales celebrates his 50 during the second One-Day International cricket match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth Saturday. — Reuters
