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Hales fights lone England battle

Cape Town - A fine 112 from Alex Hales helped England post 236 in the fifth and final one-day international at Newlands in Cape Town. 

LIVE: Proteas v England - 5th ODI at Newlands

After AB de Villiers won the toss and decided the visitors should bat first, the Proteas kept England openers Hales and Jason Roy in check, conceding just 12 runs from the first four overs of the match.

De Villiers surprised by bringing on Imran Tahir in the fifth over but the move paid dividends as the Protea leg-spinner trapped the dangerous Roy leg before wicket for 8.

Joe Root joined Hales and started confidently by taking two boundaries  off Chris Morris' first over.

The Proteas did themselves no favours when Hashim Amla dropped Root at first slip after Morris found the outside edge of his bat two overs later. 

Luckily, Amla's mistake didn't cost the Proteas as Tahir returned to the attack to trap Root (27) leg before wicket after a review. 

Morgan (2), soon followed, caught by De Kock after he flashed at a David Wiese delivery.

Stokes joined Hales and the pair put on 70 for the fourth wicket before Rabada broke the partnership, bowling Stokes behind his legs for 29.

Rabada then added the wicket of Jos Buttler with a superb inswinger that left the England wicket-keeper's stumps splayed across the Newlands turf. 

Moeen Ali (12) didn't last long, falling to an excellent one-handed catch by Farhaan Behardien off Abbott while Chris Woakes (0) flicked Wiese straight to Abbott on the fine-leg fence

Adil Rashid (9) soon followed after miscuing an expansive drive, only to be caught by Rabada at mid-off, handing Wiese his third wicket.  

Stuart Broad then frustrated the Proteas, putting on 31 with Hales for the tenth wicket before the England opener was caught off a Rabada short ball.

Broad soon followed giving Tahir his third wicket and leave England all out with 5 overs left in their innings.

The Proteas require 237 to win a series which after first two games, looked far from possible. 

Scores

England 236 all out in 45 overs

Hales 112

Rabada 3/34

Tahir 3/53

Wiese 3/50

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