Reece Topley (2-17) takes two wickets in an over as South Africa slip to 6-4, chasing 202; Adil Rashid (3-29) mops up the tail to bowl the tourists out for the joint-lowest ODI score versus England; Watch the series-deciding third ODI on Sunday (10.30am on air, 11am start)
Saturday 23 July 2022 12:07, UK
England levelled the series with a 118-run hammering of South Africa in a rain-affected second one-day international at Emirates Old Trafford.
Chasing 202 in a 29-over-a-side clash, England incredibly reduced South Africa to 6-4 inside the opening four overs of their reply before ultimately bowling them out for 83 - their joint-lowest total against England in ODI cricket.
Janneman Malan and, centurion from the series opener, Rassie van der Dussen departed in the same Reece Topley (2-17) over for ducks, while David Willey (1-9) picked up Quinton de Kock (5) and Jos Buttler ran out Aiden Markram without facing in the next.
England's main concern from that point on was the light rain that had returned in Manchester and the potential for it to force the players off before the 20-over mark of the innings, which needed to be reached in order to constitute a result.
Buttler turned to spin at both ends to rattle through the overs and not only did they manage to do so, but Moeen Ali (2-22) picked up Henrich Klaasen (33) and Adil Rashid (3-29) ran through the lower order.
Earlier, another sputtering innings from the hosts saw them bowled out short of their full allocation of overs for a fifth-successive time in ODI cricket this summer.
Dwaine Pretorius claimed career-best figures of 4-36, including the key wickets of Joe Root (1) and Jonny Bairstow (28) in the same over as England slipped to 101-6 after being inserted by the opposition at the toss.
Phil Salt managed 17 in his first ODI of the summer - in for the retired Ben Stokes - before he fell in much the same manner Jason Roy (14) had earlier, plinking an attempted pull to short midwicket.
Root played an uncharacteristically poor shot, a horrible hack across the line that he succeeded only in top-edging high and behind to De Kock, while Bairstow was bowled, beaten by a slower delivery.
Moeen Ali (6) quickly came and went, holing out to deep square-leg off Keshav Maharaj (1-29), while Shamsi accounted for Buttler (19), caught at short third man off a thick outside edge.
Liam Livingstone (38 off 26) and Sam Curran (35 off 18) rescued the innings somewhat with a couple of exhilarating cameos but both perished in the midst of a boundary blitz.
Livingstone smashed three sixes and a four from the first four balls of Anrich Nortje's 21st over, before falling to the fifth, and Curran reaped 14 from the first three deliveries of Tabraiz Shamsi's 24th only to perish to the fourth.
Willey (21) too went six and out as Pretorius took his fourth while the tail then limped along till Rashid (12) was run out courtesy of an assist from a pigeon to see England bowled out for 201 with five balls to spare.
South Africa never once threatened that score after losing four wickets inside the first four overs of their chaotic reply.
Curran picked up the fifth, bowling David Miller (12) in the ninth over, before the spinners set about their work - Moeen taking the final wicket four balls past the 20-over mark to see England to a convincing, series-levelling victory.
Former England captain, Eoin Morgan: "Jos Buttler will be smiling as big as he can. He is desperate for the guys to continue on playing an aggressive brand.
"We thought we would see it in abundance with the bat, but the way they've bowled and defended an under-par score is as good a day as he could have asked for."
England white-ball captain, Jos Buttler: "It's great for us to get the win. I'm delighted with the way we came out with the ball, those early wickets really put us on our way.
"The guys continue to try and play in the fashion that we want to as a team. Can we do it better? Absolutely. But, again, having that mindset and positivity got us up to a score that now looks great.
"We know we can improve, but that will consistently be the message. We haven't quite fired with the bat the whole summer so far in white-ball cricket, but we know how dangerous we will be when we do."
England seamer Brydon Carse has been ruled out of Sunday's ODI series decider against South Africa at Headingley after injuring the big toe on his right foot.
Carse, who picked up the injury during the opening match at Chester-le-Street, left the squad on Saturday morning and will be assessed over the coming days.
England will not be calling up a replacement for the 26-year-old for Sunday's game, which gets under way at 11am, with the series level at 1-1.
Watch the series-deciding third ODI between England and South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket on Sunday. Coverage starts at 10.30am, with the first ball at 11am.
