Billings misses second England Lions 50-over win with illness
Thursday 29th January 2015
Sam Billings sat out the second England Lions 50-over match versus South Africa A with illness as the tourists secured a 2-0 lead after a stunning Jason Roy century.
Roy, who had top-scored in the low-scoring opening match in Bloemfontein with 43, piled into the South Africa A bowlers on a Kimberley pitch which justified its reputation as a batsmen’s paradise, hitting 13 fours and six sixes after the Lions had been put in.
The Surrey opener made 141, his first Lions century and his highest score in 50-over cricket, from only 110 balls before he was dismissed in the 40th over, ending a second-wicket stand of 198 in 26 overs with his captain James Vince.
Vince fell agonisingly short of his second century of the tour six overs later, adjudged lbw for 99 from 95 balls, and although wickets tumbled late in the innings Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes maintained the momentum for an imposing total of 376 for nine.
But there seemed a real danger that would not be enough as Hendricks and Dean Elgar responded with an opening stand of 142 inside 18 overs under the Diamond Oval floodlights.
It was the Lancashire left-arm spinner Stephen Parry, making his first appearance of the tour, who dragged the Lions back into the match with a tidy spell which earned him the wickets of Elgar, for 66 from 59 balls, and Dane Vilas.
Liam Plunkett then claimed one wicket and Mark Wood a couple, but it was Stokes who finally removed Hendricks, driving to cover in the 37th over after making 141, the same score as Roy, from four balls fewer with 14 fours and five sixes.
Harry Gurney also took two wickets before Plunkett returned to claim the last two and end with 3-73 as South Africa A were dismissed for 306 in the 45th over, but Parry remained comfortably the most economical bowler.
“It’s been fantastic,” said Roy. “We got a good total for them to chase, and the bowlers came out firing. They got off to a hell of a start so we really had to dig in, and we got over the line.”
He agreed that the innings had given him special pleasure, “especially against their attack. I felt really good, the pitch was beautiful early on, and I had good partnerships with Alex Lees and then Vincey.”
Roy praised Parry, adding: “His change of pace was awesome, and he dragged the ball back, but all the bowlers take credit for the win because they stuck at it so well, even though they went for a few boundaries.”
There was also a word of praise for Hendricks. “That was a proper knock,” said Roy. “He played some great shots, it was great to watch. Him and Elgar were awesome. But we go on to Potch, it’s all good, happy days.”
The Lions now have the first of three chances to clinch the series in Potchefstroom on Saturday, when South Africa’s World Cup wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock is expected to boost the home team as he looks for match practice after an ankle injury.
Tim Bresnan could come into contention for the Lions, as the Yorkshire all-rounder flew into Johannesburg today, and Sam Billings hopes to recover from the nasty illness which ruled him out in Kimberley.
See Sam Billings in action this summer with a Kent Cricket Membership.
Tickets to Kent v Australiaon June 25-28, the first game of the Ashes Tour, are included in Kent All Rounder and Championship Plus Memberships and an option for Six Pack package holders.
Members can also buy up to six guest tickets before the fixture goes on general sale in March 2015.