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It was comfortable in the end.
But sometimes, England's victory over the 104 races against South Africa was a nervous and even slightly moderate way to open a World Cup.
The hosts were not able to beat their best on rough terrain and the Proteas were looking to continue.
Enter England's versatile Ben Stokes to light up a gray day at The Oval and ensure a memorable start to the tournament.
This incredible take
Stokes has already done amazing things on the ground for England, but on Thursday he made one of the most beautiful catches of all time …
Running toward the mid-wicket limit, Stokes jumped back and plucked Andile Phehlukwayo's powerful sweep through the air with his right hand.
The jaw dropped, hands rose, and a joyous roar sounded.
Stokes could not help laughing as he greeted the crowd and casually decamped the ball before being overrun by his delighted and incredulous teammates.
"You have to smile, what a trap, he never seemed to want to get close to it," said former South African captain Graeme Smith, knocked out of action. BBC Test Match Special broadcast.
"It was a stroke of luck – to be honest, I was in the wrong position – if I had been in the right position, it would have been a regulation," Stokes told BBC Sport. .
"That feeling for about five seconds when I was facing the crowd and everybody was cheering it was phenomenal."
Phenomenal? The readers of BBC Sport certainly thought so …
- Justin Warhurst: I am at The Oval and it was the best catch I have ever seen and which I will probably never see.
- Daniel Stevanato: Can we just declare the Catch of the Tournament competition close now? Absolute scenes, even for Stokes, it's unreal!
- Charlie Thomas: I would say that one of the best captures that the game has ever seen. The faces in the crowd at the last replay are priceless!
- Issy Savin from Larclause: No, Stokes. It was wild.
"A full day"
This take was the highlight of Stokes' superb overall performance.
He has managed 89 shots on 79 balls – his best all-around score for England since his altercation in Bristol in 2017 – to help guide England to 311-8 after Jonny Bairstow came out for the first time. second time of the high roller Imran Tahir.
Stokes' rocket throwing from the Abyss, Dwaine Pretorius, pocketed a single shot to eliminate JP Duminy, then claimed two wickets in as many balls to complete South Africa.
As the captain of the British team Eoin Morgan said, this is called having "a full day".
"When he does, it's extremely fun and good for the game," Morgan said. "We see him a lot at training, doing things like that all the time, you shake your head."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said: "The success of any team is usually dependent on the all-rounder, and Ben Stokes gets in shape in the first game of the World Cup. is a great boost for England. "
"Archer could become a hero very quickly"
Even with Stokes, Morgan, Joe Root and Jason Roy exceeding 50%, the English total only seems to be on an equal footing, pushing a fan to scream through TMS 'comment window: "Is this sufficient?"
"We have no idea," said Jonathan Agnew, Cricket correspondent for the BBC.
Jofra Archer was determined to answer "yes, a lot".
Bowling with a venomous combination of speed, rebound and accuracy, Archer went 3-27 and showed exactly why he had hoisted himself into the World Cup team after s & # 39; 39, be qualified to play for England in March.
He first hit Hashim Amla on the helmet grid, forcing the opener to retire injured for shock tests. He was able to return but only after the chances of South Africa faded.
Archer then ordered Aiden Markram to hit Root and forced captain Faf du Plessis to shoot, before returning Rbadie van der Dussen after another balloon error that bounced sharply.
"South Africa was surprised by its pace and its rebound," Smith said. "Jofra Archer will quickly become a hero in England if he continues to play bowling this way."
Analysis
Jonathan Agnew, BBC correspondent for cricket
Archer has an incredible natural talent. He is one of those fast bowlers who make it incredibly easy.
There are some who have a very easy and rhythmic approach that does not seem to take much. Archer comes from ribs.
He has so much at his disposal and, as he used to play in the big tournaments of Twenty20, he is incredibly relaxed in international cricket. He took so easily.
Archer gives an advantage to England. He hit Amla, one of the best players in the game, in the grid because Amla was slow on delivery.
Archer gets the best players. These days, you have to take wickets in cricket one day. You need something different, and that's what Archer brings.
Does cricket come home?
England was recorded in the semifinal of the World Cup football last summer.
And while Morgan's team finished winning, a revamped version of Three Lions was played at The Oval.
There were songs of "cricket come home". Many posted the same thing on social media. Others complained that it was embarrbading and useless.
Whatever your point of view, the way England has defeated tough opponents may well suggest that his team could end 44 years of injury in the Men's World Cup.
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