Overview

• South Africa posted 330-8 after recovering from 93-3, then restricted England to 325-9 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
• Matthew Breetzke scored 85 and became the first men’s ODI player to pass fifty in each of his first five innings, sharing a 147-run stand with Tristan Stubbs (58).
• England’s chase featured half-centuries from Joe Root (61), Jacob Bethell (58) and Jos Buttler (61), before Jofra Archer’s 27 off 14 left them needing a six off the final ball.
• England dropped debutant Sonny Baker for Saqib Mahmood, while South Africa replaced the ill Wiaan Mulder with Senuran Muthusamy and remained without Kagiso Rabada.
• England again lacked a specialist fifth bowler as part-timers Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks conceded a combined 112 runs, with Nandre Burger taking 3-63 and Lungi Ngidi bowling Buttler at a key moment.