South Africa celebrated a memorable five-run victory against England in the second ODI, establishing a winning 2-0 series lead. England, despite half-century performances from Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and Jos Buttler, was unable to chase down the set target of 331 runs. This triumph marks South Africa’s second consecutive ODI series win, following their earlier success against Australia. Furthermore, it represents their first ODI series win in England since 1998, a milestone achievement for the team led by Temba Bavuma. England faces ongoing challenges in the 50-over format when playing South Africa, with their last series victory over the Proteas occurring in 2017. The five-run defeat is also among South Africa’s closest victories against England in ODI history. Matthew Breetzke’s outstanding performance saw him become the first batter in ODI cricket to score five fifties in his first five matches, contributing a vital 85 runs from 77 balls for South Africa, which reached a total of 330/8. Nandre Burger’s impactful bowling, taking three important wickets, played a crucial role in securing South Africa’s thrilling victory.
