ICC World Cup 2019: Match 1, ENG v SA – England Player Ratings

England were all over South Africa in the opening game of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. After being put into bat first, the batsmen played great cricket and helped post a 300-plus total on the board. Then, the bowlers made the most of the two-paced pitch that seemed to have got difficult to bat as the game progressed. They were ideally backed up by the fielders which kept increasing the pressure on the visitors.

Four English batsmen scored half-centuries in the England innings with Ben Stokes scoring the highest runs. However, none of them managed to bring up the first century of the tournament. Opener Jason Roy got to fifty before anyone else and was dismissed for 54. Joe Root also looked in great touch but he couldn’t score more than 51 runs. Similar was the case with skipper Eoin Morgan who fell prey to Imran Tahir after getting 57. Ben Stokes found some form just at the right time and scored a crucial 79-ball 89 as England got to 311/8 in 50 overs.

Jofra Archer has a dream World Cup debut

The South African batsmen failed to live up to the expectations in this encounter. Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen scored half-centuries but didn’t get much support from the other batsmen. The Proteas batsmen succumbed to the clever variations used by the home team. There were a lot of slower balls bowled quick took ages to reach the batsmen.

In his maiden World Cup outing, Jofra Archer executed his plans brilliantly and picked up three wickets. Ben Stokes finished things off for his team by picking two wickets off consecutive balls. England comfortably won the match by a huge margin of 104 runs.

Here are the England Player Ratings for the match

Jonny Bairstow – 0/10

This was only the second time a wicket fell in the first over of a World Cup. It was Jonny Bairstow who bagged in the embarrassing record in this encounter. The opener fell to a well-disguised leg spinner from Imran Tahir and edged one to the keeper. Thus, he had to walk back for a golden duck and doesn’t score any points for this game.

Jason Roy – 8/10

Jason Roy brought up the first fifty of the tournament and looked clinical. Although this wasn’t one of his fluent innings, he did make his way through to the half-century. But he couldn’t kick on from there and got out for a 53-ball 54.

Joe Root – 8/10

Joe Root was extremely clinical during this knock. He timed the ball really well and it was great watching him in action. But yet again, he failed to convert this into a big score and got out for 51. Even though there were a lot of balls left in the innings, he couldn’t really make the most of the opportunity.

Eoin Morgan – 8/10

Eoin Morgan also looked good in this game coming back from the injury. He scored at a good strike rate and hit 4 fours and 3 sixes during the course of his innings. But just like the other two batsmen who came out to bat ahead of him, he got out soon after he got to his fifty. The English skipper scored 57 runs in 60 balls.

Ben Stokes  – 9.5/10

It was a quiet summer for Ben Stokes until this match. He struggled thus far but rose up from the ashes just at the right time. The all-rounder scored 89 runs from 79 balls in an innings that included 9 fours. He plucked an unbelievable catch to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo and picked a couple of quick wickets to wrap things up for his team.

Jos Buttler  – 3/10

Jos Buttler only managed to score 18 runs off 16 balls in this encounter. He was bowled by a beauty from Lungi Ngidi. Behind the stumps, he collected one easy take to dismiss Hashim Amla. He couldn’t stand tall for the team when it was required the most but still, he has the ability only thing is he should get rid of the monkey on his back,

Moeen Ali  – 2/10

Moeen Ali had a poor outing in this encounter. He only managed to score 3 runs from 9 balls and conceded 63 runs in the 10 overs that he bowled. The off-spinner dismissed JP Duminy during his spell.

Chris Woakes  – 2/10

Chris Woakes didn’t make a huge contribution either in this match. He scored 13 runs and went wicketless in the 5 overs that he bowled. He conceded 24 runs.

Liam Plunkett  – 5.5/10

Liam Plunkett used his variations well as soon as the ball got old. Moreover, he dismissed the dangerous Quinton de Kock for 68 who was the best South African batsman on the day. With the bat, he remained unbeaten on 9 runs off 6 balls.

Jofra Archer  – 9/10

If you were among those who questioned the inclusion of Jofra Archer before the start of the tournament, you might regret your thoughts. There were absolutely no nerves for him making his World Cup debut. It was a memorable outing for him where he scored 7 runs off 3 balls and picked up 3 wickets. He dismissed the likes of Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen breaking the back of the opposition.

Adil Rashid  – 4/10

Adil Rashid had some turn on offer from the pitch. He hit the right areas most of the times but also bowled a few loose deliveries at times. The leg-spinner dismissed Andile Phehlukwayo.