South Africa must regroup quickly and up its scoring rate to draw level with the home side
Having suffered a pounding in the first game, South Africa must find a way to regroup quickly if they are to stay alive in the three-match Twenty20 International series against England.
A solid bowling performance followed up by a blistering unbeaten half-century from Jonny Bairstow propelled England to a commanding nine-wicket win in the first T20I in Southampton on Wednesday. The quick turnaround time means South Africa must think on its feet before the second game in Taunton on Friday.
Both teams are without several first-choice players as they build up to the Test series starting next month, giving the bench a go in what is still a clash between two strong sides. England was on the ball in Southampton from the time AB de Villiers chose to bat, David Willey getting the home side off to the perfect start with the scalp of Jon-Jon Smuts with the first ball of the series.
Bowling quickly and with control, Mark Wood then accounted for Reeza Hendricks and David Miller, and even though de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien strung together an unbroken 110-run partnership, they took 95 deliveries in doing so. De Villiers was unusually subdued by his high standards, taking 58 deliveries for his unbeaten 65 while Behardien was slightly faster in comparison, making his 64 not out off 52 deliveries.
South Africa were tied down by Liam Dawson, the left-arm spinner, and Mason Crane, the debutant legspinner. Between them, the two only conceded 41 runs in eight overs to put a spoke in the South African wheel.
"We know he has the potential and skill level, he has proved that at county level," said Eoin Morgan, the England captain, of Crane, 20, who finished with 0 for 17 from his four overs. "It is about reigniting that form at international level.
AB de Villiers was unusually subdued by his high standards in the first match, taking 58 deliveries for his unbeaten 65. AB de Villiers was unusually subdued by his high standards in the first match, taking 58 deliveries for his unbeaten 65.
“His skills are good, we know that, it is delivering them against (players like) de Villiers, who is one of the best of our generation – delivering against him is a task especially when he is coming after you.
"The challenge for him now is if people counter him, how he comes back from it. But they are really good signs for a player coming in."
England hunted down the modest target of 143 for the loss of just Jason Roy, who put his lean recent form behind him to smack 28 off just 14 deliveries. Bairstow provided the thrust by hammering six fours and two sixes in his 35-ball 60 as England coasted home with a massive 33 deliveries to spare.
"The result doesn't look good for us," conceded de Villiers. "We lost our way in the first six (overs), had to rebuild and that cost us a bit. From the 13th over I tried to have a go. We were looking for those 10 runs an over and didn't get a lot of them, unfortunately."
South Africa will look for more substance from its top order and a telling final kick if it is to keep pace with an England batting line-up that has exceptional firepower even in the absence of the rested pair of Joe Root and Ben Stokes. For that, how it tackles the spinners in the middle overs will be crucial.
The third match of the series is to be played in Cardiff on Sunday 25 June, with tickets available to purchase HERE.
Teams (from):
England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, David Willey, Mark Wood.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, JJ Smuts, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Morne Morkel.
Article first published on www.icc-cricket.com