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Broad makes Proteas choke in a low scoring contest

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Stuart Broad South Africa ChennaiEngland kept its hopes of reaching the Quarter Finals intact with a shock win against the strong South Africa in yesterday’s Group B Match at Chennai. The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk was host to a low scoring match but there wasn’t any shortage of action throughout the day. As many as 20 wickets went down and in the end it was Stuart Broad bowling England to a narrow win of 6 runs.

Put into bat first by Graeme Smith after losing the toss, England were in early trouble at 15 for 3 before recovering towards a modest total thanks to half centuries from Jonathan Trott (52 from 94 balls with 3 fours) and Ravi Bopara (60 from 98 balls with 3 fours and a six). Amazingly England’s first three wickets fell to the innocuous left arm spin of Robin Peterson who opened the bowling for the Proteas with Dale Steyn.

Rookie Leg Spinner Imran Tahir got amongst the wickets once again, this time taking 4 for 38 to help SA skittle out England for 171 in 45.4 overs. Morne Morkel also bowled superbly giving away only 16 runs and taking two wickets in 7 overs. South Africa were cruising along in their chase at 63 for no loss before Graeme Swann provided the opening removing Graeme Smith. Broad, Anderson and the other bowlers got into the wicket taking act to bowl England strongly back into the match leaving SA at 127 for 7. Not one frontline batsman could come up with a fifty and the top score of the innings was 42 (from 51 balls) coming from opener Hashim Amla.

There was a brief partnership for the 8th wicket between Wicket Keeper Morne van Wyk (13) and Dale Steyn (20) which seemed to be taking SA to a striking distance of reaching the target. However, Stuart Broad wrapped the match taking the last two wickets just on the nick of time to bowl England to a terrific victory. Broad finished the match with figures of 6.4-0-15-4. The Man of the Match interestingly went to Ravi Bopara instead of Broad.