England v South Africa, 1st T20I Review: Bairstow shines as South Africa are routed by England

South Africa just don’t seem to be finding the secret ingredient that will assure them of a victory in England as they suffered yet another defeat, this time in a T20I. Opting to bat first, the Proteas managed to assemble a mere 143 runs, which, in modern T20 standards, is well below par. England’s Johnny Bairstow had no qualms gunning down the target with an unbeaten 60, thus giving the hosts a 1-0 lead over South Africa in the 3-match series.

Willey, Wood and wickets

In his return to England colours, David Willey struck with the very first ball of the contest. A hint of swing forced JJ Smuts to play at the delivery, but all he managed was an inside edge. Bat, boot, and bail – the ball’s journey completed with gently disturbing the woodwork, much to the disappointment of Smuts. Willey though was celebrating his comeback with an immediate breakthrough.

From the other end, Mark Wood was given the responsibility to begin proceedings. He only thought it fair to replicate Willey’s achievement, his victim being Reeza Hendricks. Wood dug it in short, and Hendricks gleefully accepted the invitation to pull. The ball however met high on Hendricks’ bat, thus travelling straight to midwicket. Mark Wood had also struck with the first ball of his over, and England were up and running.

At 2-7, David Miller was greeted with a Test-match like field. England skipper Eoin Morgan added a third slip for the left-hander. Miller somehow squeezed his first delivery through to third man and handed the strike to AB de Villiers.

Prior to the game, AB de Villiers stated that he was looking to use the T20I series to find the much-needed rhythm for the team, something they have lacked during their sojourn in England. In spite of South Africa reeling at 8/2, AB found his rhythm straightaway as he guided two balls of that Wood over to the boundary. Two cracking shots off de Villiers’ bat kicked off his innings.

Willey charged in for a second over, thinking of making it 2 in 2, and off opening balls of the over moreover. Miller though greeted him with a six. Despite losing two wickets, South Africa seemed to be back on track, scoring over 8.5 an over. Perhaps we spoke too soon? Mark Wood seemed to think so, as he bagged another first-baller. Miller had too much pace to deal with, and dancing at the popping crease, he managed to toe-end it straight to Jos Buttler. South Africa were in serious trouble as the scorecard glared 32/3 at them.

A vapid 17 overs

Once Farhan Behardien walked in, the game suddenly dipped into an uninspiring phase, despite de Villiers and Behardien scoring runs. Their puzzling century stand had no whiff of aggression. South Africa had left their élan back in the locker room. They played out 17 overs with what seemed like risk-free cricket, something that doesn’t usually go hand in hand with T20 cricket. All said and done, AB de Villiers and Farhan Behardien got to their respective fifties, and ended with similar scores. The boundary tally of both batsmen was identical, 4 fours and 2 sixes. AB finished with 65 off 58, Behardien, 64 off 52.

The pitch might have slowed down a tad bit, experts believed at the halfway mark. England however paid no heed to any of it as their openers came hard at the visitors. Chasing 144, Jason Roy and Alex Hales played out the first couple of overs with a tinge of caution. Roy then shifted gears in a span of two balls, slamming a six into the crowd behind square off Smuts, who in fact opened the bowling after having done the same while batting as well.

Wayne Parnell faced the brunt of Roy’s short-lived wrath as he went for 23 off his second over. The series of four boundaries began with one that sailed over it, followed by 3 fours that travelled to three different parts of the Rose Bowl. Andile Phehlukwayo got the better of Roy who picked the wrong ball for improvisation. He was struck on the pads and up went the dreaded finger. Roy was replaced by Johnny Bairstow, and he had runs on his mind.

Along with Alex Hales, Bairstow stitched an unfaltering partnership. The two made sure there was a boundary in every over, alternating between fours and sixes. South Africa were out of the contest as early as the 9^th over when the asking rate dipped under 6.

Hales offered leg-spinner Imran Tahir a chance to sprint and celebrate a wicket in vain, but the fielder’s buttery fingers meant the ball went into the boundary ropes. Bairstow, England’s top scorer, deservedly finished the game with a quick single in the 15^th over. South Africa were routed by a three English batsmen, thus adding to the worries of AB de Villiers.

Brief Scores

South Africa 142/3 in 20 overs (De Villiers 65*, Behardien 64*, Wood 2/36, Willey 1/34)

England 143/1 in 14.3 overs (Bairstow 60*, Hales 47*, Phehlukwayo 1/11)

Check full scorecard here.