In the World Cup opener against South Africa at the Oval in London, hosts England on Thursday posted 311 for eight in 50 overs. Ben Stokes was the highest scorer for England hitting 89 off 79. Along with him, Jason Roy (54), Joe Root (51) and Eoin Morgan (87) also hit the fifties.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. England started their World Cup with a nightmare as they lost their first wicket, Jonny Bairstow (0) off just the second ball of the World Cup, with only one run on the board, after South Africa captain Faf du Plessis sprang a neat surprise by giving the new ball to leg-spinner Imran Tahir, probably targeting Jason Roy. But it was Bairstow who fell first, aiming for an extravagant drive through the covers but only managing to edge it into the gloves of Quinton de Kock.
Despite losing Bairstow early, England did recover to display the carefree aggression that has become their signature style of ODI cricket and even helped them which have made them the number one ODI team and earned them the favorite tag in this World Cup. In first 10 overs, they put up 60 for one.
Roy and Root were playing keeping a big score in mind. They have faced some difficult deliveries from Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi but Roy and Root took the show with some great shots.
England passed 100-runs mark at the end of 17th over with the fifty of Roy off 48 balls with seven fours. He pushed Andile Phehlukwayo to short fine leg to complete the first fifty of this World Cup. Off the last ball of 18th over, Root also reached his fifty off 57 with five fours.
After posting a stand of 106 runs, Roy (54) fell while pulling off Phehlukwayo. He just managed a top-edge which made his way back to the dressing room. Faf took an easy catch at the mid-off area.
