Top five moments from South Africa tour

England have returned home following a long tour of South Africa, consisting of four Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s, that produced some special memories.

Here ecb.co.uk takes a look at the top-five moments from the trip. 

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1. Stuart Broad’s series-clinching spell in Johannesburg

Broad produced another one of his outstanding spells of bowling to lead England to a Test series-clinching victory at a sold-out Wanderers last month.

The paceman took five wickets for one run in 31 balls en route to stunning figures of 6-17, which brought back memories of his remarkable 8-15 in the Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge last summer, to help dismiss South Africa for 83.

Swinging the ball both ways under the floodlights, it was the seventh time Broad had claimed five wickets in one spell and the feat helped him become England’s third leading Test wicket-taker.

Stuart Broad revels in the moment after having South Africa dangerman AB de Villiers caught behind in Johannesburg

 

2. James Taylor short-leg catches in Johannesburg

South Africa’s second innings in Johannesburg was not only notable for Broad’s superb spell, Taylor also produced two moments of brilliance fielding at short-leg.

Crouched down under the helmet close to the wicket, the 5ft 6in 26-year-old held on low down to see off Hashim Amla before diving to his right to clutch on to a Dane Vilas flick.

Practice made perfect for Taylor, who has worked hard on his short-leg catching all winter, and that showed in his celebrations as he wheeled away in sheer delight.

James Taylor is mobbed by his team-mates after taking another worldie of a catch at short-leg

 

3. Ben Stokes double-century in Cape Town

Stokes destroyed the record books during the second Test in Cape Town by blasting the fastest Test double-century by an England batsman.

The left-hander bludgeoned his 200 off just 163 deliveries, smashing Sri Ian Botham’s 220-ball effort against India at the Oval in 2002, but using 10 balls more than Nathan Astle’s world record.

Stokes smashed an England record 11 sixes during his 258 off 198 deliveries, the biggest score by a number six in the longest format, and shared a Test-best sixth-wicket stand of 399 with centurion Jonny Bairstow.

Ben Stokes cherishes the moment he compiled the fastest double-century by an England batsman in Cape Town

 

4. Jos Buttler 73-ball ODI century in Bloemfontein
Buttler produced yet another one-day international century in a record-breaking match in Bloemfontein that saw England rack up their highest-ever total on foreign soil – 399 for nine.

Again promoted to number four, like he was when he clubbed a 46-ball ton against Pakistan late last year, the destructive right-hander was one of eight England batsmen to clear the ropes, the first time it has happened in an ODI, during a 73-ball hundred.

Remarkably, his 73-ball effort was the slowest of his four ODI tons but one that nevertheless helped him secure an Indian Premier League contract.

Jos Buttler celebrates his 73-ball century in Bloemfontein, the slowest of his four ODI hundreds

 

5. Ben Stokes’ catch to dismiss AB de Villiers in Bloemfontein

When South Africa skipper AB de Villiers crashed Moeen Ali down towards long-on he must have thought he was collecting a maximum.

But he did not bank on Stokes making significant ground inside the boundary rope and remarkably plucking the ball out the air with one hand.

The wonder catch, which Stokes described as a fluke, proved critical in the Proteas’ rain-affected run-chase and helped England move 1-0 ahead in the five-match series.  

Stokes provides another moment of magic, plucking a certain six out of the air with one hand to dismiss De Villiers


Source: ECB

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