Batsman Dawid Malan led the English national cricket team towards securing a win against South Africa yesterday. It was England’s second consecutive victory in the three-match series during their tour of South Africa.
“Try not to think about being No. 1, it doesn’t guarantee you runs or a place in the team. The bowlers set that win up for us.” – Dawid Malan
England won the toss and elected to bowl first. South Africa put up a total of 146 runs on the board with the loss of 6 wickets. England chased this within 19.5 overs, with a total of 147 runs and 6 wickets lost as well.
Malan hit a great score of 55 runs in just 40 balls, having the highest score on the match board out of the two teams’ players and getting the Player of the Match trophy. Skipper Eoin Morgan and Chris Jordan ended the game batting with 4 wickets and a ball to spare.
England captain Eoin Morgan said after the match was over: “I think the experience helps, holding your nerve having been there before and with no crowd there are not as many distractions as there normally are.”
English batting aces Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler showcased impressive strike-rates of 123 and 146.67 respectively but lost their wickets after just a few balls faced. Morgan left the pitch with a great strike-rate of 153 because of his 26 in 17.
Bowler Adil Rashid displayed great numbers in the bowling attack. Finishing his set of four overs, he took two wickets and kept an economy rate at just below six runs an over. Right-handed fast bowler Jofra Archer kept the economy to just 4.5 runs an over.
For South Africa’s batting, the opening partnership looked strong to begin with Quinton De Kock hitting 30 runs in just 18 balls and batsman Temba Bavuma putting two 4s on the board. It fell through with Bavuma losing his wicket at just 13 runs being bowled out by Archer.
Chris Jordan, England’s joint leading international T20 wicket taker reflected on the match saying, “we got a lot of things right in the bowling department.”
George Linde and Rassie van der Dussen, both South African batsmen, contributed to the total losing their wickets at a score of 29 and 25 respectively. Left arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi put definitive numbers on the board with his bowling with the economy of just 4.75 runs per over and 3 wickets.
Conversely, Lungi Ngidi, right arm fast bowler for South Africa, suffered a knocking at the hands of the English batsmen reporting a poor display of bowling numbers. He was hit for a massive 51 runs in just 4 overs.
Batsman Jonny Bairstow’s 86 not-out for England powered his Player of the Match and a victory in the previous match held on Friday. England chased down South Africa’s score of 179 by finishing at 183 runs in 19.2 overs with 5 wickets at hand.
The last game of the three-match series takes place tomorrow.