FIRST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Headingley:
England 34-0 (7 overs) v South Africa
England made a steady start after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the first one-day international against South Africa at Headingley on Friday.
They were 27-0 after five overs, with Ian Bell (11 not out) and Matt Prior (14 not out) offering few chances.
Steve Harmison was recalled to the attack in place of Tim Bresnan for the day/night game, while Samit Patel was preferred to Graeme Swann.
Harmison, 29, has been persuaded to Smith reeling after Kaunas defeat ...
EU, South Africa Haggle Over Zimbabwe at First Summit ...
England Synod votes for women bishops ...
Live - South Africa v Wales ... come out of retirement from ODIs.
LATEST ACTION (ALL TIMES BST)
By Mark Mitchener
e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Mark Mitchener' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)
1504 - Eng 37-0 (8 overs)
Ntini varies his angle of attack, Bell slots a single into the off side where ABDV makes a tumbling half-stop and they run a second. Prior then has to be quick to run to the striker's end as Bell prods to cover point and ABDV's diving throw only just misses the stumps.
1500 - Eng 34-0 (7 overs)
Bell dabs a single, while on the England balcony, Messrs Pietersen and Flintoff are enjoying a huge joke with batting coach Andy Flower. Prior then blasts a loose one from Steyn through cover point for four. The ball bashes into the lens of a TV camera and has quite a gash in it, so needs replacing, and that's the cue for fourth umpire Steve Garratt to appear. Rather than a cardboard box of balls, he comes on with a smart black briefcase (which Aggers compares to the sort Q gives to James Bond, containing gadgets). But no gadgets for now, it's just balls - and the ball is indeed changed.
"Hi Mark, I dreamt last night that today's game was going to be a classic (eclipsing the 438 game SA won against Australia). Here is hoping my dream comes true! I put down 10 quid on SA winning by a single run!"
Nivash Singh in the TMS inbox
1454 - Eng 29-0 (6 overs)
Ntini strays with a legside wide, then has Bell (wearing a sleeveless sweater, it's quite chilly) nibbling at a couple outside off stump until he steers a single to Nel at third man. Aggers compares Nel in the field to "one of those old wildebeest on wildlife programmes, who you know is going to get it from a lion - there's a lot of effort, but very little pace".
"Harmy 'replacing' Tim Bresnan? Eh? I didn't realise Tim Bresnan played in the last ODI?"
AJ, London, in the TMS inbox
[Bresnan played in the ODI against Scotland on Monday and took two wickets - MM]
1450 - Eng 27-0 (5 overs)
Bell runs a quick single to AB de Villiers (aka ABDV) at short third man, then Prior clips Steyn off his hips for a confident four to deep backward square leg - his third boundary. Alec and Simon on TMS urge Yorkshire to redevelop the stand they're in, as their view is often obscured by a roving photographer!
1447 - Eng 22-0 (4 overs)
Bell pulls Ntini through mid-wicket, and they scamper back for two as the tumbling JP Duminy does the fielding. Smith's response is to send Kallis from second slip to short mid-wicket, but then Bell works a short ball behind square and they run three while Steyn runs round from long leg.
"Not bad timing, as the Olympics start to wind down the cricket starts. How did people procrastinate before the internet..."
Edd, Cardiff, in the TMS inbox
[Caroline Cheese is your live text guide if you fancy a quick look at the Olympics between overs - MM]
1442 - Eng 17-0 (3 overs)
Steyn fires down a couple of wides to Bell, then a misfield at cover by Herschelle Gibbs handily pushes the ball away from the incoming man at mid-off and they run a single. Prior prods another couple, and it's a "tidy" start so far says Simon Mann on TMS.
"Shane Warne was the best one-day captain I ever played against as he'd attack right from the beginning with three slips and a gully, rather than the regulation two slips"
Alec Stewart on TMS
1437 - Eng 12-0 (2 overs)
Makhaya Ntini takes the second over, Bell plays and misses at his first ball but then opens the face and steers a single to third man. Prior drives at Ntini a couple of times but finally finds his rhythm with a fluent cover-driven four off the final ball of the over.
"The likes of Bell and Prior have made lots of nice 30s in one-day cricket, but if these two are going to be the future, they'll have to post some bigger totals"
Former England skipper Alec Stewart on TMS
1432 - Eng 7-0 (1 over)
Headingley looks to have plenty of empty seats as Dale Steyn opens up from the Kirkstall Lane End to Ian Bell. South Africa's fielders look a little chilly as Bell clips Steyn through mid-wicket, and they run three, despite a furious chase by Andre Nel. Prior nicks his first ball between Smith and Jacques Kallis at first and second slip, bouncing just in front of them, and there's a wry smile from the Sussex man as it goes for four.
1427: While Aggers shows Hoggy where the commentary box is, the TMS team have been pondering Matt Prior's role at the top of the order - will he be given licence to "pinch-hit" or will he bat in a more orthodox fashion? We're nearly under way.
1421: Yorkshire and England seamer (and Barmy Army patron) Matthew Hoggard is a guest summariser for TMS today, and he's already noticed a black cloud heading to Headingley. Knowing the conditions and the ground well, he thinks it could swing around early on - but with only temporary floodlights in place, Hoggy reckons it could be difficult for both batsmen and fielders under the lights this evening...
1418: The other interesting bit of ODI news today is that the South African board has decided to pull their team out of the Champions Trophy on security grounds. Will more teams follow suit? Graeme Smith has just told Aggers on TMS that he expects they will. Watch this space.
"Good afternoon Mark, I hope today sees you in fine fettle. This love Harmy's suddenly reacquired for ODIs, does it come with unconditional pound signs attached... Cynical? Me Never..."
Dean, Dover, in the TMS inbox
1415: Here are the full teams:
England: Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Owais Shah, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, James Anderson.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Vernon Philander, Johan Botha, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
Umpires are Australia's Simon Taufel and England's Ian Gould. Third umpire, poised with his finger over the "pause" button on TV replays, is Nigel Llong - while the fourth umpire is Steve Garratt (a Nottinghamshire policeman, wouldn't you know), and match referee is ex-Sri Lanka batsman Roshan Mahanama. I'm joined by our "gaffer" Oliver Brett and, making his live cricket debut today, Andrew McKenzie on match report duties. Andy's a loyal Durham fan so is pleased to see Harmy back in the fold.
TOSS NEWS: England have won the toss and will bat first. Captain Kevin Pietersen says he's been on Harmison's "case" for a while to get him back playing ODIs. South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said he'd have batted as well - the Proteas are without the injured Morkel brothers.
1355: Afternoon, everyone - a slightly belated welcome to the one-day series between England and South Africa, after Monday's ODI against Scotland was curtailed by rain and Wednesday's Twenty20 international was washed out completely.
News of the toss as we get it - but what we do know is that pace bowler Steve Harmison has suddenly rediscovered a love of ODIs and will replace Tim Bresnan in the team today.
(BBC)
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