ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts as South Africa Keeps England at Bay

South Africa posted 311 after their skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to bowl first in the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2019 against England. The visitors got off to a fine start when Imran Tahir was able to produce the outside edge of Jonny Bairstow on the first ball the right-hander faced. Faf du Plessis began his attack with Tahir and the talisman leg-spinner provided the breakthrough in the first over.

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However, Jason Roy and Joe Root were able to hit the ground running. Roy was playing through the line of the ball and he was able to find the gaps with perfection. In fact, the right-hander was playing on the up and had some close call. On the other hand, Joe Root was able to hit the ground running and played some delightful shots in his innings.

South Africa was able to keep England in check.

Joe Root and Jason Roy were able to add 106 runs for the second wicket partnership. However, the hosts lost two quick wickets as Root and Roy were dismissed one after the other. Roy went for the hook against the ball which was not there to be hit and the ball ballooned to Faf du Plessis at mid-off.

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Furthermore, Joe Root got the outside edge and JP Duminy took a good catch at point. Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes were once again able to rebuild the England innings.

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Morgan scored a fine fifty however he was too dismissed soon after completing his fifty. The southpaw tried to go hard against Imran Tahir but could not clear the long-on fielder.

South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi was able to get the big wicket of Jos Buttler when the right-hander went for the pull and got an inside edge on to the stumps. Moeen Ali could not get going and Faf du Plessis took a fine catch while diving to his left.

Meanwhile, England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes found his form at the right time. Stokes was able to hit the ground running and scored his runs all around the park. The southpaw batsman scored a fine knock of 89 runs off just 79 balls.

Here is how Twitter reacted to England’s batting innings:

Decent score by England on a non-typical Oval surface. Now know what pace to bowl at. Still put them marginally ahead.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 30, 2019

https://twitter.com/Imravi_singh07/status/1134084847364788225

https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1134083976111566848

South Africa have done the best thing to keep England in check – Take timely wickets. The surface has helped too.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 30, 2019

Fifth consecutive 300+ totals for England in ODIs – a first for the side!
373-3 at Southampton 11 May 2019
359-4+ at Bristol 14 May 2019
341-7+ at Nottingham 17 May 2019
351-9 at Leeds 19 May 2019
300-8* at The Oval 30 May 2019 #CWC19 #EngvSA
+batting second
– Record is 6 by Aus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 30, 2019

World class knock from Stokes….

— JSK (@imjsk27) May 30, 2019

42 scores of 300 or more for England in their last 100 ODIs.
They had only 31 such scores in their first 633 ODIs! #Cwc19 #ENGvSA

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) May 30, 2019

@NgidiLungi Lungi ????#Proteafire #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/F9vlbhGWbU

— Nhlamulo Mulow (@Mulow_Cbuyi) May 30, 2019

Thinking of my Protea friends today! Big day. I believe the boys are ready. Let’s get behind our team #ProteaFire @OfficialCSA @cricketworldcup

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 30, 2019

Faf has led the side well. I know…said it earlier too. He’s really rotated his key bowlers well. Three or four spells at crucial stages of the game. Let’s see how England responds in the last ten… #CWC19 #EngvSA

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 30, 2019

Exemplary catching from @OfficialCSA, first crucial one that of Morgan and we all know how dangerous a finisher Moen Ali can be!#ENGvSA #CWC19

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 30, 2019

#Nesamani running to get to the TV! #ParasakthiExpress on the run! #OdinenOdinen moment in the first over of the #CWC19! #WhistlePodu #ENGvSA ?? pic.twitter.com/EP8HGmtH4b

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 30, 2019

while Roy and Root are batting I thought for 370
while Morgan and Stoke are batting I thought for 350
while Buttler and Stokes I thought 330
Later 320
Now I dont even know they gonna score 300 or not
Disappointed with England batting#ENGvSA #CWC19

— Lifeof yashwanth (@yashu2498) May 30, 2019

Would be fitting if England (or World XI) won the #CWC19. With players from New Zeland, South Africa, Barbados and England they are a true representation of world cricket? #ENGvSA

— Matty (@MatanSlonim1997) May 30, 2019

First wicket in every world cup

1975 – M Amarnath
1979 – A Roberts
1983- Lance Cairns
1987 – Rumesh Ratnayake
1992 – Craig McDermott
1996 – D Cork
1999 – A Mullally
2003 – @7polly7
2007 – @mdk_gul
2011 – Mahmudullah
2015 – @StuartBroad8
2019 – @ImranTahirSA#CWC19 #ENGvSA

— Akhil Gupta ? (@Guptastats92) May 30, 2019

Sensational bowling by South Africans! Keeping ENGLAND down to singles and twos within last 10 overs is the new goal of 50 over cricket #ENGvSA #CWC19

— Guess Who (@Hiroshana_) May 30, 2019

Rababda still trying to bowl with pace and also width. Take pace off. The surface has dried out #ENGvSA

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 30, 2019

Not sure this is a typical Oval track where you get true bounce and can hit through the line. Taking pace off seems to be working

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 30, 2019