(Andrew Reid)
If there were any lingering doubts about how Jofra Archer would fare after his return from a long-term injury, the England fast bowler put them to bed in an emphatic display for England, in their third and final one-day international (ODI) against South Africa. The fast bowler starred with the ball, taking six wickets as England romped to a 59-run victory in Kimberley.
Jos Buttler (131 from 127 balls) and Dawid Malan (118 from 114) laid the platform with superb centuries after South Africa won the toss and sent the visitors into bat. That decision by the Proteas initially looked to have been a smart one after they had England reeling at 3-14 before Buttler and Malan shared in a stunning fourth-wicket stand of 232, to catapult the visitors to a huge total of 7-346.
The home side were always up with the run rate, but lost wickets at regular intervals. Heinrich Klaasen (80 from 62 balls) and opener Reeza Hendricks (52) top-scored for the Proteas, but a career-best bowling performance from Archer sealed victory for the English.
Archer finished with the staggering figures of 6-40 as the hosts were bowled out for 287. The remarkable feat represented the third-best figures ever recorded by an England bowler in an ODI match. Archer’s devastating display left the cricket world in awe on social media.