Stokes wants to keep SA ‘under the pump’

Cricket365
February 16, 2016

England allrounder Ben Stokes wants his team to keep the pressure on hosts South Africa in the second ODI, which starts in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Three Lions beat the Proteas by 39 runs (D/L method) in the first ODI after posting a record score total of 399 for nine in their allotted 50 overs in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

South Africa were 250 for five after 33.3 overs when persistent rain caused the game to be called off, and Stokes wants England to continue their aggressive approach.

Stokes told reporters: "If we can play the way we did the other day and emulate the way we went about everything, we should have a chance of going two-nil up.

"In the longer scheme of the series, if we can do that, then we'll put South Africa right under the pump."

The allrounder has also credited head coach Trevor Bayliss and assistant Paul Farbrace for the way England have embraced a new aggressive way of playing limited-overs cricket.

Farbrace was in temporary charge of the side when England got knocked out of the World Cup last year in the group stages and immediately changed the way they approached the 50-over format.

Stokes continued: "They've had a big influence on the way we're playing – and since [last summer's series against] New Zealand started, we've played exactly the same way and always wanted to post big totals and be aggressive.

"When you've got coaches backing you to play this attacking brand of cricket it's a big help."