Live Cricket Score, England vs South Africa, 1st ODI at Leeds, 2017: ENG win by 72 runs; lead 1-0

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live updates of the 1st encounter of the 3-ODI-series between England and South Africa.

In order to have a preparatory series ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2017, hosts England are playing a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa, which starts from Wednesday at Headingley, Leeds. I am Vishal Mehra, and I will be bringing you the live cricket scores and updates from this contest. The ODI series is first part of the entire tour of England for the South African side. The other part of the tour, which will take place after the Champions Trophy, will see the two teams play out three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and four Tests. In a way, the South African Cricket Team is going to enjoy the entire English summer. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, England vs South Africa – 1st ODI

The Eoin Morgan-led England side is coming off from an easy 2-0 ODI series win over Ireland at home, while South Africa played hard-fought five-match ODI series in New Zealand and claimed it by 3-2. Both the sides’ big players were involved in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). South Africa captain AB de Villiers did not have a good outing in this season of IPL, while their opener Hashim Amla emerged as one of the most successful players in the tournament with two centuries. Like de Villiers, England skipper Eoin Morgan too did not have an impressive run with bat in IPL. He scored only 65 runs from 4 matches.

This ODI series will bring back both the captains in the ODI groove and it will be important for them as well ahead of the Champions Trophy. South Africa have played only two ODIs at Leeds and lost both of them. Not only at Leeds, South Africa did not carry a good record in England. From 22 encounters in ODIs in England, South Africa have won only 7 and lost 13. Moreover, South Africa are yet to register a bilateral ODI series win in England since 1998. Both the teams will be eyeing to start off with a win and continue the same form in Champions Trophy as well.