England lock horns with South Africa in tournament opener. (Source: Twitter)

Cricket’s biggest tournament is underway as hosts England take on South Africa in the opener in London. South Africa won the toss and they elected to bowl first. Leg-spinner got an early breakthrough after he removed Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck. After a steady stand between Root and Roy, England lost two quick wickets before skipper Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes put together a century stand to get their team back on track. England score 311/8 in their allotted 50 overs. The hosts later wrapped up South Africa’s innings at 207 to win the opener by 104 runs.

2200: England beat South Africa by 104 runs

2100: South Africa have lost wickets at regular intervals and as the pundits have been saying their middle order is out of touch. We have an instance of the same in this match

2005: Jofra Archer strikes again and this time it’s a big wicket of Du Plessis who fails to control a pull shot and gives a catch to Moeen Ali in the deep

2000: Jofra Archer strikes as he removes Markram early in the innings

1945: Aiden Markram and De Kock are holding the innings together

1930: Hashim Amla has been sent back in the pavilion after being hit by Jofra Archer. Amla tried to pull a short delivery from the fast bowler but miscued and ended up having it on the grill of his helmet

1915: South Africa begin 312-run chase with Quintin de Kock and Hashim Amla

1845: England score 311/8 in their allotted 50 overs.

1830: WICKET! Ben Stokes goes for 89 as he mis-cues the stroke. England are 300/8

1820: England have gone past 300-run mark in London. Despite regular fall of wickets, the hosts look steady with one more over to go in the innings.

1800: WICKETS! Wickets keep tumbling for England and this time it is Jos Buttler who has to go back. Ben Stokes is now running out of partners at the other end

1745: WICKET! Lungi Ngidi strikes to clean up Jos Buttler for 18. England lose their 5th wicket and Ngidi scalps his first

1730: WICKET! After a steady stand between Morgan and Stokes, the skipper has been sent back in the hut by Imran Tahir, courtesy a superb diving catch from Aiden Markram in the outfield. The new batsman in is Jos Buttler

1700: After a steady stand between Root and Roy, England lost two quick wickets before skipper Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes put together a century stand to get their team back on track.

1630: WICKET! Quick wickets for South Africa as Joe Root takes the long walk back to the pavilion after being caught at point by Duminy off Rabada

1625: WICKET! Jason Roy goes after being caught by SA skipper Faf du Plessis off Phelukwayo

1615: FIFTY! Now Joe Root gets to his half century

1610: FIFTY! Jason Roy begins the tournament with a personal milestone as he completes a half-century in London. This has been a class innings by the England opener especially after the hosts lost an early wicket. Meanwhile, England put 100 on the board

1600: FOUR! Jason Roy goes aerial this time and hammers a slow, back of the length delivery from Prestorious for a boundary. He moves to 47 off just 44

1545: Joe Root has looked brilliant in this innings. He has been driving the ball with precision and has steadied the ship for the hosts. He is unbeaten at 38 at a strike rate of just under 100.

1530: Joe Root and Jason Roy have resisted well after early blow in the form of Bairstow.

1505: FOUR! Joe Root shows his class and just hammers that one from Lungi Ngidi for a boundary through the covers.

Look who we have here at the Oval

1500: WICKET! The experiment works for South Africa as leggie Imran Tahir removes Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck. England are 1/1 after Bairstow is caught behind by Quinton de Kock

14:55- Both the teams are out for the National Anthems. None of the sides have ever won a 50-over World Cup since the beginning of the most prestigious cricketing tournament and they would now be looking to get a positive start to the tournament.

1435- TOSS! South Africa win toss and they elect to field first in the opening encounter against England. Here’s the playing XI for both the sides.

England Squad Playing XI: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

Bench: Mark Wood, James Vince, Liam Dawson, Tom Curran

South Africa SquadPlaying XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Jean-Paul Duminy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir

Bench: David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Chris Morris

England Squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Mark Wood, James Vince, Liam Dawson

South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi, Chris Morris

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