England Lions in South Africa 2024/25, Cricket South Africa Invitation XI vs England Lions one-off match, Cape Town Match Report

England Lions in South Africa 2024/25, Cricket South Africa Invitation XI vs England Lions one-off match, Cape Town Match Report, December 10 – 12, 2024

December 12, 2024

in Cricket

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CSA Invitational XI 289 (Senokwane 79, Lawes 4-38, Akhter 3-51) and 256 (Hermann 131) beat England Lions 154 and 107 by 284 runs

Andrew Flintoff’s first tour as England Lions’ head coach resulted in a thumping defeat of their one-off contest in opposition to a CSA Invitational XI in Cape City, with the guests dropping all 20 of their wickets in a complete of 63 overs throughout two innings, as they had been bowled out for scores of 154 and 107.

The four-day fixture at Western Province Cricket Membership concluded a three-week tour of South Africa, with the main focus for the Lions’ 19-man celebration having been on what the ECB described as “individualised and high-quality coaching”.

Nonetheless, the batters specifically had been discovered wanting in opposition to a South African assault through which Ruan de Swardt, who performed two Checks in opposition to New Zealand in February, was the one bowler with prior worldwide expertise.

After being requested to bowl first, the Lions dismissed their opponents for 289 early on the second day, with Tom Lawes (4 for 38) and Zaman Akhter (3 for 51) proving the stand-out bowlers.

The identical two gamers, nonetheless, had been again in motion with the bat all too quickly, compiling an eighth-wicket stand of 78 after the Lions had stumbled to 72 for 7 of their first innings.

Codi Yusuf claimed three of these wickets, together with Freddie McCann for a duck along with his first supply, whereas Rocky Flintoff – the coach’s 16-year-old son, and a late addition to the tour – was bowled third-ball for 4 by Yusuf’s fellow new-ball bowler, Matthew Boast.

Captain Dan Mousley, who not too long ago made his England white-ball debut within the Caribbean, resisted for some time with 24, earlier than Lawes (48 from 38) and Zaman (32 from 39) carried the rating in direction of respectability. Nonetheless, the Lions then misplaced their last three wickets for 4 runs to concede a first-innings deficit of 135.

Jordan Hermann, CSA’s opening batter, then prolonged that benefit with a second-innings 131. Jean du Plessis (36) and Corbin Bosch (33) had been the one different scorers of notice in a complete of 256.

The Lions, who had organized to rotate their squad all through the sport, used eight bowlers in complete. These included one other latest England debutant, John Turner, who went wicketless, whereas Derbyshire’s Pat Brown – a T20I worldwide in 2019 – was the decide, claiming figures of 4 for 44 in 12 overs.

Set a nominal goal of 392, the Lions’ batting shortcomings had been swiftly uncovered as soon as extra. Yusuf and de Swardt claimed two wickets apiece because the guests collapsed to 39 for five, and this time it was Farhan Ahmed, with 24 from 29 at No.7 who held up CSA for a short time. Tsepo Ndwandwa closed out the competition with 3 for 23 in 6.5 overs.

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