Cricket News: England VS SA 1st T20I -Jonny Bairstow's attacking innings win it for England
What happens in T20I when you are defending a massive total of 234 runs, and an opponent starts hammering your bowlers like anything scoring 72 runs in just 28 balls with eight brisking sixes
England's Jonny Bairstow dismantles SA bowlingA perfect reminder for the world of what's waiting for them this year in October in the form of the T20 World Cup.
South Africa was on 150/5 after 15 overs. They required 85 runs to win in the successive 30 balls when Tristan Stubbs and Andile Phehlukwayo destroyed Richard Gleeson in the 16th, smashing 21 runs. The standing suddenly became 66 runs in 24 balls. But then England's death bowling, led by Chris Jordan, shined their best.
In the successive 24 balls, they got hit for just one six, took three wickets and gave 10, 3, 4, and 5 runs in the next four overs. England finally took a 1-0 lead in this three T20I match series by winning the first one by 41 runs.
"18th over from CJ changed the momentum of the game, a brilliant over. We know that yorkers in T20 are a fantastic weapon but the margins are smaller... especially on this ground."Said Jos Buttler.
Batting first, England put an excellent total for the Proteas with support from David Malan's 43 and 106-run partnership stand between Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali. The brutal attack from Ali got him the man of the match award and scored England's fasted 50 in T20I in 16 balls.
Proteas increased their problems by dropping three catches of Jonny Bairstow on 12, 57 and 72. He scored 90 runs which was the backbone of England's massive total. The only good thing with the visitors in the first innings was Lungi Ngidi's career-best 5/39 spell.
Reece Topley has been like gold for England, as he again took the top two wickets of Proteas in the same over, dropping visitors to 7/2 in his first over. Reeza Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen tried steering innings with a 65 runs partnership in 36 balls but soon were taken in quick succession.
After Captain David Miller also fell, Andile Phehlukwayo and Tristan Stubbs changed the gear completely with their brisk hitting. Still, the margin was already so high, and world-class death bowling steered England to win in the thrilling competition. South Africa finished at 193/8.
"The ball was traveling around tonight, a mammoth total, but a phenomenal knock by Stubbsy. An extremely disappointing result but two more to come.", said David Miller.
A high-scoring match with fireworks from both ends dropped catches, and some world-class death-bowling, it was the perfect T20I match with a thrilling competition. England has taken up a 1-0 lead in the series, and with their players in good form, the next few games will not be easy for the visitors to win. The two teams will clash for the second T20I at Sophia Garden today.
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