@Breetzke plays a shot during his 85-run innings vs England at Lord's 2025
The crunching match of September at Lords Cricket Ground saw South Africa beat England by a margin of five runs in 2nd ODI of their three match series which ensured they lead the series unchallenged at 2-0. It was a match of high quality, and although it was day-night, South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke was named Player of the Match after historic 85, and the valiant English chase was defeated on the last ball of the match. This became the first bilateral ODI series win in England since 1998 that South Africa had made a comeback in the 50 over format.
Toss and Conditions:
England skipper Harry Brook called the coin and chose to take the field first, a choice affected by a slightly late start because of a wet field. The Lord’s pitch promised to be fair, and provided early help to bowlers when batsmen could settle down to the task, with cloud cover and temperatures of 11-19C implying swing and seam action, especially at the floodlights, which promised a difficult pursuit.
South Africa' innings: Breetzke and Stubbs Lay the Foundation
The South African batting highlighted by Temba Bavuma was geared towards registering a competitive score. Aiden Markram (49 off 64) and Ryan Rickelton (35 off 33) gave it a break and formed a 73-run partnership. England bowlers did not revive without a fight though and Jofra Archer got rid of Rickelton and Adil Rashid got rid of Bavuma (4) and Markram within just 19 overs, leaving South Africa 93/3.
Enter Matthew Breetzke, whose 85 out of 77 balls (7x4, 3x6) caught the afternoon. The 26-year-old, back after his hamstring injury, showed incredible composure in the sense that he was the first player in the history of ODIs to have received fifty or more in his first five innings. His violent but tactical style, especially his cover drives and lifted shots, did the trick. Breetzke had 147 runs with Tristan Stubbs (58 off 62) as his fourth-wicket partner,fastening and hastening the innings. Stubbs was a supporting participant who was cautious with good timing.
South Africa wanted a good total, and late in the game came the fireworks of Dewald Brevis (42 off 20) and Corbin Bosch (32 off 29). Three sixes in Brevis cameo and constant Bosch contribution made South Africa reach 330/8 in their 50 overs, four runs short of the ODI record at Lords. England promised to be the most interesting team, with the pace and bounce favored by Jofra Archer (4/62), and the tightness maintained by Adil Rashid 2/33 in 10 overs. But other English bowlers such as Brydon Carse (0/68) and Saqifah Mahmood (0/53) failed to keep down the late Proteas onslaught.
In reflection Breetzke said: It was a tricky one at first, reckoned 280 would be a good score. It was old-fashioned cricket at first, batsmanship... read the conditions and score at the finish. Not only does his notching create a daunting target, but also solidifies his image as an up-and-coming star.
England: Gallant Chase a Failure
With 331 to chase, England had an uphill task in which they needed 6.6 runs per over. The innings started in the worst way possible with Jamie Smith falling to a first-ball duck, to Rickelton off Nandre Burger. Ben Duckett (14 off 33) never managed to get fluent until he was bowled by Keshav Maharaj and England was at 66/2 in 12.5 overs.
A 77-run partnership between Joe Root (61 off 72) and Jacob Bethell (58 off 40) calmed the ship down. Root made 61, with eight fours, and fought with his class, and Bethell made 58, with five fours and three sixes, and discomposed the spinners of South Africa. But they both went down, one right after the other--Bethell in the hands of Brevis off Corbin Bosch, and Root in the hands of Rickelton off Maharaj--thwarting the square-rigged English at 147/4.
England was kept in the hunt by Captain Harry Brook (33 off 40) and Jos Buttler (61 off 51). Buttler made 61 with three fours and three sixes, and again the hopes stayed alive, but when Lungi Ngidi dismissed him in the 42nd over the balance was broken. Jacks (39 off 33) and Carse (7 off 9) of South Africa lost to Nandre Burger who now had 3/63 to his name.
England had left a small margin - 18 runs required off the last over - when Jofra Archer, with 27 off 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes, narrowly missed taking England to within touching distance. With six required off the final ball to compel a Super Over, Archer was only able to score one off Senuran Muthusamy, thus securing victory in South Africa. England completed with 325/9 which was five short. Corbin Bosch punished (1/38) and Keshav Maharaj (2/59) and the three wickets of Burger counted.
Harry Brook was still insurrectionary: They must have had 10-15 too many, but to score inside one blow a 15 is quite a feat. Fatigue was ruled out as an excuse by him, given that England boasted of a deep batting line-up.
Key performances & Turning Point:
The South African total hinged on Breetzke and his historic 85 as his reading of the conditions and his speed were critical. Brevis and Bosch took advantage of the platform established by the 147-run partnership with Stubbs. In England, the half-centuries of Root, Bethell and Buttler kept them competitive, but their failure to translate such openings into a match-winning knock was expensive. Archer had scored his late heroics with bat and ball (4/62) but in the decisive situations the South African bowling, under Burger and Maharaj, was always steady.South Africa’s revival following a 93/3, England losing early wickets and the removal of Root and Buttler at crucial times were seen as turning points.
The last over, in which England had 18 to get, was the most intensive moment of the match and Archer made a heroic effort, but it was not enough.
South Africa' Series Victory:
This win gave South Africa an insurmountable 2-0 lead, after destroying England by seven wickets in the first ODI at Headingley. It emphasized their superiority, as they likewise defeated Australia away in the early part of the year 2025.Congratulating his men on their stamina and in the field, Temba Bavuma singled out Maharaj keeping a tight rein and Bosch with a tight spell. Their increasing strength in ODIs was shown by the series win, the first in England since 1998, of South Africa.
England on the other hand, lost their 8th of 11 ODs in 2025, revealing their weaknesses in the 50 over format. Brook admitted that small changes were required, especially in the Powerplay, in an attempt to save face in the third ODI in Southampton on September 7.
Looking Ahead:
South Africa will want a clean sweep and England will want pride and momentum. The deciding ODI is another exciting battle with both teams expected to put out mostly the same line up even with the issue of injuries to South African team. The Proteas are, so far, taking home a historic victory at the House of Cricket, and Breetzke’s record-breaking performance has left his name in ODI history.
South Africa: 330/8 in 50 overs (Matthew Breetzke 85, Tristan Stubbs 58; Jofra Archer 4-62, Adil Rashid 2-33) Beat England 325/9 in 50 overs (Jos Buttler 61, Joe Root 61; Nandre Burger 3-63, Keshav Maharaj 2-59) by 5 runs.