When Andre Nel top scores in an innings with thirteen runs to his name, it has to mean that the side is in trouble. South Africa did not know what hit them as England and Stuart Broad raced through the line up on a rather troubled day for the tourists. The England openers chased the target even faster in just fourteen overs and Kevin Pietersen, with another cat reference, cannot help but beam broadly like a Cheshire cat.
Graeme Smith could not look on in helplessness. South Africa did get a miracle in that Albie Morkel was rendered fit. But it was a day when little could go right for South Africa. When a team last only twenty-three overs in a fifty over match, there is not much of a chance of winning. Trent Bridge would have wanted the South African skipper and his men to bury their heads in the ground. But they would not be able to hide for too long, Trent Bridge will go in for a relaid surface after this match. But that is besides the point.
On another day, Nel’s figures of thirteen runs from just seven balls, including three boundary shots off the man of the hour, Stuart Broad, would have meant an added boost to the batting side’s scorecard. In this case, it hardly made for a saving grace. But that was not what was expected of Nel. Instead it was the top order who paid the price for not being more patient, alert and biding out the bowler of the day. Instead the South Africans appeared submissive, indecisive and appeared they had not shaken off the defeat from the first one day international.
There were only two other double digits figuring, both amounting to ten each. Those numbers, not surprisingly, belonged to Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher. Gibbs, the man who stood out with his timing and shot selection in the first match, was the man to pouch. Stuart Broad began his assault with that prize wicket, the inside edge seeing the end of Gibbs. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis did not wait too long at the crease either. The England fielders were sharp and took their chances and South Africa were staring down the barrel before the ten over was over with only thirty-six on board and already four wickets down.
Thereafter, little hope lay for South Africa of a big innings total but the parade continued in one direction as the England bowlers kept piling on the pressure. There was no time for recovery. The shock had been delivered to devastating effect. It was almost as if South Africa had packed their bags and were in a hurry so as to not to miss their flight. They made it too easy for the England bowlers who maintained a steady and probing line and length and found the South African batsmen short on skills on the day. Broad was rewarded with five scalps and to that that the ECB actually deemed this lad too weary in the course of the Test matches. He showed them for sure. Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison proved the perfect back up and South Africa’s nightmare.
With just eighty-three on board, South Africa are staring at their second successive series in the one day internationals against England. Not only is this their lowest total against England, one would have to go back as far as the 14th of December, 1993 when South Africa recorded their lowest even innings total of sixty-nine against Australia.
This one should be a cakewalk for England; and the Cheshire cat could not be happier. All over in the blink of an eye? England’s opening batting pair suggest it.

To read more of Pietersen’s glorious initiation into captaincy, do read:

Kevin Pietersen - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Living Nine LIves; Wins It for England