Cape Town - Following their loss to England in the first one-day international in Bloemfontein, Proteas skipper AB de Villiers admitted that they lost too many wickets in their run-chase.
England beat South Africa by 39 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis (D/L) method after rain prematurely ended proceedings on Wednesday night.
The visitors posted a mammoth 399/9 in their 50 overs, with South Africa managing 250/5 after 33.3 overs when rain intervened.
Quinton de Kock was not out on 138 off 96 balls and the hosts appeared in with a shot at winning, but ultimately lost too many wickets in order to win on the D/L method.
Earlier in the day, some wayward bowling from South Africa enabled England to post a mammoth target, with Jos Butler (105 from 76 balls) the main destroyer-in-chief.
“We lost a couple of wickets too many there, including myself, Rilee (Rossouw, 19) perhaps. So I think it was advantage England,” De Villiers said at the post-match press-conference.
“But run-rate wise we were right up there, and I think we gave them a nice scare and showed them what we’re all about as a top seven.”
De Villiers was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Ben Stokes for eight, after a SA skipper had charged down the track to spinner Moeen Ali.
“I used my feet a little bit too well, got too close to the pitch (of the ball). I couldn’t get enough elevation on it. I did however try and get a little bit squarer so I was a little bit unhappy about the fact that the wind also pushed it a bit towards him. But it was a great catch and I thought he did well to keep it in.”
De Villiers admitted that his dismissal was vital in the outcome of the game.
“We needed a partnership there so I’ve got to be hard on myself, thinking that of I batted for another 30 minutes or so we would have been in a fantastic position, so it was not good enough and hopefully I will improve in the next few games.”