One part of my book, A History & Guide to the Cricket World Cup, which I enjoyed researching was the miscellany section and in a continuation of that, I have been doing my best to unearth some further "highlights". Incidentally, I am still indoors and probably could benefit from going out a bit more.
ENGLAND vs SOUTH AFRICA at THE OVAL
- Jonny Bairstow had the misfortune of being the first batsman since New Zealander, John Wright, to be dismissed in the first over of a World Cup tournament. Wright went to the third ball - but first legitimate - in the 1992 edition.
- The four fifties in the England innings is their most in a World Cup innings. They have previously scored three in five other matches, the most recent being in 2011 in the loss to Ireland at Bangalore.
- England's 311 for 8 is their highest World Cup total after losing the toss and being asked to bat. Their previous highest was 303 for 8 against Scotland at Christchurch in 2015.
- For the first time in the World Cup, an England innings contained two century partnerships.
- Joe Root became the fourth England cricketer to take three catches in a World Cup innings following Dermot Reeve, Ashley Giles and Graham Thorpe.
- The match saw the seventh occasion in the World Cup of six fifties being scored. The most is seven between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sydney in 2015.
- England avenged their 122-run defeat against South Africa at the same ground in the 1999 World Cup by winning comfortably by 104 runs and making more than three times as many runs in this match.
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