The procession started with in the very first over, Jason Roy after hitting Rabada for a four on the previous delivery obliged and gave Hashim Amla his first catch of the day at first slip. The second wicket came in the form Joe Root, who was struck on his pads while playing across the line against Parnell.
Rabada continued to nab wickets with Alex Hales becoming his second victim. Hales guilty of playing away from his body handed Amla his second catch for 1. Fresh from dancing in the towel, Jos Buttler’s dismissal was identical to his teammates.
Rabada continued to make the ball dance on his tunes that saw Buttler play a wrong shot giving Faf du Plessis a simple catch at second slip.
Rabada picked his fourth wicket in the form of Adil Rashid. Rashid much like Hales, Buttler and Morgan lashed outside the off stump and fell for a first-ball duck. With pace bowling in full exhibition, de Villier called in Keshav Maharaj to bowl in the 11th over.
It was only Jonny Bairstow and David Willey that showed some resilience in the middle with England on 20 for 6. This was England’s lowest ever score for the loss of 6 wickets in an ODI and seventh overall.
Bairstow being the last recognised batsman along with Willey ensured England got past Zimbabwe’s lowest ever ODI score of 36. The pair added 62 runs for the sixth wicket before Willey was caught at covers by JP Duminy for a 39-ball 26.
Toby making his ODI debut came out with clear content and took on the African bowling. The pair of Toby and Bairstow added 52 runs in no time. Bairstow secured his fifth ODI half-century in 63 balls. The pair added 50-runs in just 45 balls as well. Bairstow departed soon trying to hit Maharaj down the ground. Dancing in front of the wicket, Bairstow was beaten by pace that saw him get stumped for 51; his second.
Jake Ball coming in at No.9 added just 7 before he was bowled by Maharaj off a bottom edge. Toby continued his staunch confrontation that helped England past the 150-run mark.
Maharoj soon picked up his third wicket in the form of Toby who perished for 37-off 37. Thus ending England’s innings on 153; their lowest at Lord’s and second lowest vs South Africa at home.
Earlier in the day, after winning his 8th straight toss, de Villers announced two changes in their playing XI. Morne Morkel and JP Duminy were drafted in place of Farhaan Behardein and Imran Tahir, who is unwell. It was the first time Morkel was playing an ODI after June 2016.
England, on the flip side announced as many as 4 changes in their side. Roland-Jones, who came in for Mark Wood was joined by David Willey, Jonathan Bairstow and Steven Finn. Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes were rested as announced by ECB last evening.
