Match Details

ENG vs SA 1st Match, ENG vs SA 2020

ENG

183-519.2

England won by 5 wickets

20.0179-6

Match info

Live

Scorecard

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	54	34

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	48	57
10 Over	90	86
15 Over	128	127
20 Over	179	179

Commentary

So, that is it from me, Karthik Raj and my co-commentators, Akshay Bhide and Arjun Bhalla for this first T20I at Newlands. Join OneCricket's live coverage for the second T20I on Sunday

Eoin Morgan: Pleasing because we were average apart from two or three guys. Chasing was difficult, especially three-down, but Jonny and Ben set it up nicely, to win when you don't play your best is nice. With the ball, we missed areas, a tad too full, and three-down early without support and partnerships. Collectively, regardless of the team and the time around each other, the more we play the more we will gel. Not doom and gloom, nice to start with a win, but we need to be doing the right things. We had a lot to make up.

Quinton de Kock: We did think it was a good total with the way our guys batted, but it just didn't come right tonight. I don't necessarily think it was just that one over, but the way Jonny and Stokes batted was superbly. Jonny batted really well today. Very happy with the way Linde was bowling in the nets; happy for him and it was a good day for him. Just one or two small things in the field we could've done better.

Jonny Bairstow, Player of the Match: Very pleasing to start the series with some runs. It's something you (batting at four) got to enjoy having played different formats of the game and it's kept me in good stead and our batting order is very flexible. I was happy with how I played in IPL, didn't finish well but over a period of time when you play in different conditions you gotta adopt well. You could see the ball into the pitch was quite tricky, I was just trying to maintain my weight forward and see the ball as close as I can. You are always in the game and tonight Rashid coming in at 11, even if it's 15-16 RPO you know you are always in the game.

Comments from the players:

That is when Beuran Hendricks' bowling went haywire as he went onto concede 28 runs which included eight wides, three fours and one six. Lungi Ngidi did give some hope by dismissing Eoin Morgan but England only require 21 off 15 balls by that stage. Eventually, Bairstow finished the game with two fantastic strikes in the last over after Sam Curran came up with a useful six in the penultimate over. Bairstow's knock was remarkable considering that he scored 86 runs off 48 balls with the next highest score being 37.

What a fantastic finish for England and what a player Jonny Bairstow is!! England wrap up this match with four balls and five wickets to spare. The chase didn't get off to a great note as England struggled as the ball didn't come onto the bat properly. Jason Roy bagged a duck and fell of debutant George Linde's bowling while Lungi Nigidi removed Jos Buttler in the fifth over. After a scratchy 19 off 20 balls, the world's No.1 T20 batsman Dawid Malan became Linde's second wicket of the day. This is when Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes came together to form a brilliant 85-run partnership of just 54 balls. Even after Stokes fell after a well made 37-run knock, Bairstow continued on his merry way. However, with Kagiso Rabada coming up with a top 16th over which went for just six runs, South Africa would have fancied themselves as England still required 51 off four overs.

Arjun- Six and its all over for South Africa here in Newlands. The 28 runs in Hendricks over was the difference between the two sides.

19.2 Lungi Ngidi to Jonny Bairstow

6 SIXX!!!! That's the way to finish it. In the slot on the stumps, Bairstow clears his front leg and thumps this over long on fence for a maximum. With this they beat Proteas by 5 wickets and go 1-0 up in the series

Arjun- The game is almost over. Just 3 more required

19.1 Lungi Ngidi to Jonny Bairstow

4 FOUR!!! This will do it for England. A slower ball in the slot on the stumps, Bairstow heaves this into the leg side for a boundary

Akshay- 7 from 6. Its England's game to lose now.

OVER 19.0

England

173/5

Sam Curran

7(3)

Jonny Bairstow

76(46)

Kagiso Rabada

0-32(4.0)

18.6 Kagiso Rabada to Jonny Bairstow

1 Single on the last ball as Bairstow steers the ball for a single. England needs 7 off the last over. Full and straight, Bairstow plays down to long-on

18.5 Kagiso Rabada to Sam Curran

1 Single to square of the wicket and Jonny is back on strike

Akshay- Why would you bowl a slower ball to Sam Curran in the death overs? Why KG why?

18.4 Kagiso Rabada to Sam Curran

6 SIX!!!!!! Length ball outside off, slower delivery, 113kms. Curran waits for the ball and hits the ball perfectly over Faf at long on

15 required of 9 and Bairstow is off the strike

18.3 Kagiso Rabada to Jonny Bairstow

1 Single to Jonny. Short and slow and the batter plays awkwardly to long on to bring Curran on strike

18.2 Kagiso Rabada to Jonny Bairstow

2 length ball in the off and the batter pulls to deep mid wicket for a couple