A swashbuckling half-century by Chris Morris hauled South Africa back from the brink of defeat as they scraped past England by one wicket yesterday to level the one-day series at 2-2 with one match left.
Morris, going into bat at number eight, bludgeoned his way to 62 off 38 balls to help South Africa reach their target of 263 with 16 deliveries to spare after Joe Root had made his second successive century for the tourists.
“A lot of work on my batting in the last few months, and just happy to take the win tonight. When Dave got out we were in a bit of strife. Luckily they dropped me and I thought, this is a chance to play cricket for your country, when it’s in your arc, you can hit it,” Morris said.
Root made 109 in an England total of 262 after they were sent in to bat on what is normally a high-scoring one-day ground. It was a total that had not seemed likely when England were floundering at 108 for six after losing five wickets for 21 runs. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir took three wickets in seven balls to spark the England collapse after Root and Alex Hales (50) had taken the tourists to 87 for one. Seamer Kyle Abbott followed up with two wickets in successive overs to plunge England into disarray.  But Root and Chris Woakes (33) batted sensibly in a seventh wicket stand of 95 off 100 balls to rebuild the innings.
Root, who made a career-best 125 in a losing cause in the third match in Centurion, reached his eighth one-day international century off 119 balls and faced a total of 124 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and a six. Hales made his fourth half-century in as many innings before he was caught on the midwicket boundary off Tahir after putting on 69 for the second wicket with Root. Adil Rashid hit a rapid 39 off 26 balls before he was last man out. Kagiso Rabada took four for 45, while Tahir claimed three for 46. It was the first time in the series that a team was bowled out.

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