Proteas take unassailable 2-0 series lead after Matthew Breetzke’s fifth consecutive fifty-plus score
South Africa have clinched the ODI series against England with a game to spare after a five-run win in the second match that was set up by a record-breaking 85 by Matt Breetzke at Lord’s.
Just as they defeated Australia 2-1 in the ODI series last month, the Proteas, world champions in the Test arena, showed again why they’re building nicely towards the 50-over World Cup set to be staged in southern Africa in 2027.
Matthew Breetzke’s phenomenal ODI start continues! 🌟
A world record: his 5th consecutive score of 50+ in his first 5 international One Day matches, capped by a match-winning 85 off 77 balls, earns him the Player of the Match award. 🔥🇿🇦 #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/kLwsfhFo6h
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 4, 2025
Brought into the Proteas lineup to replace the ill Wiaan Mulder, Breetzke proved the star, becoming the first player in ODI history to pass fifty in each of his first five matches.
The 26-year-old middle-order batter’s 77-ball knock added to a 49 from opener Aiden Markram and 58 from Tristan Stubbs as South Africa, who were put in to bat, made 8-330 from their 50 overs.
“It was a more than competitive score. I definitely would have taken that when we were three wickets down,” Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said.
England were skittled for 131 on the way to losing the first match by seven wickets at Headingley on Tuesday but competed much better two days later, despite losing Jamie Smith to the first over of the reply.
It went down to the last over, off which England needed 16 with one wicket remaining, but some inspired hitting by tailender Jofra Archer (27 off 14 balls) couldn’t prevent the hosts falling just short on 9-325.
Before that, Jacob Bethell illuminated the home of cricket with a 58-ball 40, including hitting four consecutive boundaries, and put on 77 runs for the third wicket with Joe Root (61 off 72 balls) to give England a chance.
Jos Buttler then smashed 61 off 51 balls before being deceived by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi and getting bowled.
Will Jacks kept alive English hopes with two sixes but was one of two wickets to fall in the 47th over, bowled by Nandre Burger (3-63).
Archer hit two fours and two sixes but ran out of deliveries as the South Africans — back at Lord’s two-and-a-half months after beating Australia there to win the World Test Championship — prevailed again.
“They probably got 10, 15 too many, but to get within one blow of their score, I thought was a good effort,” England captain Harry Brook said.
The third ODI is at Southampton on Sunday with the South Africans targeting a clean sweep.
