blockerdave
ICC Chairman
6 March 1982 & International Cricket returns to South Africa for the first time since 1970 with the first "ODI" - South Africa against the touring England Rebel side. Though the match has no official status, the SACB have deemed it a full international.
Quizzed on the morality of playing in apartheid South Africa, England Batsman Geoff Boycott was unrepentant "Apartheid? Apartheid??? Don't be daft - we're not apart at all: all our maids are black."
When the action finally got underway, South Africa won the toss and put England in to bat.
England's openers Gooch and Boycott had been the only batsmen to show form in the warm up, so a lot seemed to be riding on them getting off to a good start. It was a disaster then, when Stephen Jefferies trapped Gooch lbw off just the second ball of the innings.
Larkins and Amiss had missed out both times in the warm up, and their poor form continued as they were out for 8 and 1 respectively, both bowled - Larkins by Van der Bijl, Amiss by Jefferies. England were in desperate trouble at 23/3 off 6 overs.
Boycott was looking untroubled at the other end, and though boundaries were few and far between he was picking up enough ones and twos to be scoring at almost a run a ball. He finally found support from Willey, and England began to rebuild.
They reached 60 when Kourie span one past Boycott's edge and took out his off stump. With him seemed to go England's last hope of a competitive score, especially when Knott, promoted above Humpage to number 6, followed quickly after lbw to become Jefferies' third victim.
England were only just outside the first 15 overs of fielding restrictions and already 69/5 as they were looking outclassed.
Willey and Humpage didn't panic, remaining solid and taking every scoring opportunity they could - Willey hitting 22 off one over from Kourie.
That onslaught helped Willey reach a wonderful 50 off just 40 balls.
and the 50 partnership came up off just 28 deliveries.
Willey and Humpage continued on, and were both looking settled. However, the returning Van der Bijl trapped Willey lbw for 63 and then had Humpage caught behind by Jennings for 34.
The tail tried to hit out and push the score on, but England were eventually all out for just 168 in 32.4 overs, with just 4 players hitting double figures.
England's only hope for salvaging an unlikely victory was to repeat the South African dose and take early wickets. Openers Cook and Richards put paid to any hope of that with a solid opening stand of 49 before Richards, becoming increasingly fluent after a slow start, was caught in the deep by Underwood off the bowling of Old for 25.
This was the only wicket in the first 15 overs, as Gooch rotated his seamers - South Africa reaching the end of the fielding restrictions at 65/1.
England turned to spin at both ends, with Underwood and Willey operating in tandem. Underwood got one through Kirsten's gate to clean bowl him for 11.
This brought South African legend Graeme Pollock to the wicket at 74/2. After so long without international competition, the crowd was eager to see him bat. This enthusiasm didn't extend to the umpire, however, who gave a shocking decision to judge him lbw to Willey for 9 when the ball was surely missing leg stump.
With such a low required run rate, Cook was taking no risks and made sure he got to his 50. Shortly after, a big turner from Willey went past his inside edge through the gate to bowl him for 52 from 91 deliveries.
With Rice and Procter both relatively new to the wicket, England maybe sniffed a chance, but the two dashing all-rounders took advantage of the low target to play themselves in, taking no risks at all. Gooch bowled out his spinners, Underwood finishing with 1-26 and Willey 2-43.
As the target neared, Rice increased his scoring rate, and the return of the seamers and additional pace on the ball saw him strike several boundaries.
Rice was unbeaten on 43 and Procter on 28 when the target was reached off 43.5 overs.
A comprehensive 6 wicket win to South Africa, who take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Peter Willey got man of the match for his 63 and 2-43, a good performance in a losing cause.
England move on to a their final warm up, a 3-day affair against Western Province.
Quizzed on the morality of playing in apartheid South Africa, England Batsman Geoff Boycott was unrepentant "Apartheid? Apartheid??? Don't be daft - we're not apart at all: all our maids are black."
When the action finally got underway, South Africa won the toss and put England in to bat.
England's openers Gooch and Boycott had been the only batsmen to show form in the warm up, so a lot seemed to be riding on them getting off to a good start. It was a disaster then, when Stephen Jefferies trapped Gooch lbw off just the second ball of the innings.
Larkins and Amiss had missed out both times in the warm up, and their poor form continued as they were out for 8 and 1 respectively, both bowled - Larkins by Van der Bijl, Amiss by Jefferies. England were in desperate trouble at 23/3 off 6 overs.
Boycott was looking untroubled at the other end, and though boundaries were few and far between he was picking up enough ones and twos to be scoring at almost a run a ball. He finally found support from Willey, and England began to rebuild.
They reached 60 when Kourie span one past Boycott's edge and took out his off stump. With him seemed to go England's last hope of a competitive score, especially when Knott, promoted above Humpage to number 6, followed quickly after lbw to become Jefferies' third victim.
England were only just outside the first 15 overs of fielding restrictions and already 69/5 as they were looking outclassed.
Willey and Humpage didn't panic, remaining solid and taking every scoring opportunity they could - Willey hitting 22 off one over from Kourie.
That onslaught helped Willey reach a wonderful 50 off just 40 balls.
and the 50 partnership came up off just 28 deliveries.
Willey and Humpage continued on, and were both looking settled. However, the returning Van der Bijl trapped Willey lbw for 63 and then had Humpage caught behind by Jennings for 34.
The tail tried to hit out and push the score on, but England were eventually all out for just 168 in 32.4 overs, with just 4 players hitting double figures.
England's only hope for salvaging an unlikely victory was to repeat the South African dose and take early wickets. Openers Cook and Richards put paid to any hope of that with a solid opening stand of 49 before Richards, becoming increasingly fluent after a slow start, was caught in the deep by Underwood off the bowling of Old for 25.
This was the only wicket in the first 15 overs, as Gooch rotated his seamers - South Africa reaching the end of the fielding restrictions at 65/1.
England turned to spin at both ends, with Underwood and Willey operating in tandem. Underwood got one through Kirsten's gate to clean bowl him for 11.
This brought South African legend Graeme Pollock to the wicket at 74/2. After so long without international competition, the crowd was eager to see him bat. This enthusiasm didn't extend to the umpire, however, who gave a shocking decision to judge him lbw to Willey for 9 when the ball was surely missing leg stump.
With such a low required run rate, Cook was taking no risks and made sure he got to his 50. Shortly after, a big turner from Willey went past his inside edge through the gate to bowl him for 52 from 91 deliveries.
With Rice and Procter both relatively new to the wicket, England maybe sniffed a chance, but the two dashing all-rounders took advantage of the low target to play themselves in, taking no risks at all. Gooch bowled out his spinners, Underwood finishing with 1-26 and Willey 2-43.
As the target neared, Rice increased his scoring rate, and the return of the seamers and additional pace on the ball saw him strike several boundaries.
Rice was unbeaten on 43 and Procter on 28 when the target was reached off 43.5 overs.
A comprehensive 6 wicket win to South Africa, who take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Peter Willey got man of the match for his 63 and 2-43, a good performance in a losing cause.
England move on to a their final warm up, a 3-day affair against Western Province.
