South Africa vs England 3rd T20I Highlights: England look to finish unbeaten in their tour. (Source: Reuters)
South Africa vs England (SA vs ENG) 3rd T20I Highlights: England ended the South Africa tour with their 2nd series triumph after the Tests, winning 6 out of the 10 matches they played across formats in the Rainbow nation. England took the trophy home at the end of a thrilling T20I series. Skipper Eoin Morgan (57no) hit a 21-ball fifty as the Three Lions beat South Africa by five wickets and take series 2-1.
Earlier, batting first, South Africa finished with 222/6 in 20 overs. Runs on the board and put pressure on the opposition is what Quinton de Kock said after winning the toss. However, no team batting second had ever won an International T20 at SuperSport Park Centurion, so that could explain why Quinton De Kock decided to bat first.
While the Proteas have a good record in Centurion, winning four out of five times at the venue, England have the momentum after levelling the series on Friday with a win over South Africa by two runs. Dale Steyn is expected to make a comeback to give the hosts an edge with Quinton de Kock hopeful of maintaining his blistering form. England, on the other hand, is likely to remain unchanged.
Highlights
DROPPED! Pretorius puts one down. Moeen given a life, and SIX next ball. ENG need 9 off 8
Ngidi gets Stokes! Stokes clears his front leg and does not middle the heave, straight down Hendricks's throat at deep square leg. Stokes has just fallen, with England now needing 17 from 11
1 6 2 6 1 4 = 20 from the over of Ngidi. ENG- 190/4 after 17 ovs. Ngidi leaks 20 and brings the equation down to 33 off 18. It is up to Phehlukwayo to keep the game in balance.
Gettable. Ngidi and Phehlukwayo to bowl the remaining four overs. The former holds the key as he won them the game in East London and South Africa will be looking up to him. Here he is to Stokes from round the wicket.
Gettable. Ngidi and Phehlukwayo to bowl the remaining four overs. The former holds the key as he won them the game in East London and South Africa will be looking up to him. Here he is to Stokes from round the wicket.
Last 5 overs coming up.. South Africa scored 58 from those and England need 62 from it. There's hardly anything to chose between the two sides and it has been like that right through the series. Steyn steaming in...and a dot to begin
CASTLED! The bowling change does the trick and Bairstow's dangerous innings comes to an end. Could this be the game turning wicket?
DROPPED! Bavuma drops a dolly and Malan is let off the hook. What a chance! ENG-138/2 after 12 ovs| REQ RR: 10.62 | England need 85 runs in 48 balls
17 runs off Shamsi's second over and that takes England to 128/2 after 11 overs. 'Why would SA play 2 spinners on such a flat pitch? There is NO spin up for grabs. That is just plain stupid,' asks Roy on Twitter. We are wondering the same...
Buttler perishes while trying to play the scoop. England were going nicely and there was no need for that from Buttler. England need 116 runs in 62 balls Dawid Malan, a left-handed bat, comes to the crease. ENG 106/2 after 9.3 ovs | REQ RR: 11.23
HAMMERED! Bairstow flat-bats it passed it past the bowler for another boundary to move to 17 (13 balls). Giving him company is Joss Butler on 37 (19 balls). 10 fours and 2 sixes in the PowerPlay for England. ENG- 62/1 after 6 overs. At this stage of their innings, South Africa were 63/0.
When was the last time you saw batsmen dealing with Dale Steyn so easily? The pair of Buttler and Bairstow are dealing in boundaries and keeping the required rate intact. Buttler started off the 5th over with a SIX and a four, and Bairstow follows it up by fetching a boundary in the fourth delivery. The South African seamer has already conceded 34 in 3 overs. ENG: 53/1 (5 overs)
Meanwhile, an intruder has been spotted at the Centurion. A woman dressed as Wonder Woman runs all the way up to de Kock, removes her mask and takes out one from the bag she's carrying to the South African captain. Dale Steyn joins in and he also gets the mask.
Lungi Ngidi strikes in the second ball of his first over as England lose Jason Roy early in the 223-run chase. Was a slower delivery by Ngidi and Roy fails to read it and ends up slicing it up high in the air, while trying to hit it across the line. Some work for Tabraiz Shamsi as he runs forward to grab it and eventually completes it in some style. ENG: 15/1 (1.2 overs)
Openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler arrive in the middle to start the 223-run chase and the pair helps England start on a similar note. Buttler whacks Dale Steyn for consecutive boundaries as England reach 9/0 at the end of the first over.
Mark Wood will bowl the final over and facing him is Andile Phehlukwayo, he just needs to give the strike to his partner Miller, who is batting on 27 from 16 balls.
Ball 1: Starts off with a full toss on the leg stump, and it hits his pads and races towards the boundary in the fine-leg region.
Ball 2: Slower delivery and Phehlukwayo tries to create some room for himself. He smashes the ball hard but unfortunate for him as it goes straight to Ben Stokes at long-off, he departs as it turns out to be a dot delivery.
Ball 3: Miller on strike and Wood delivers a short delivery coming at 149kph case. Miller tries to pull but fails to make any contact.
Ball 4: Wood alters his length and pitches it up and wide. This helps Miller open his arms and slash the ball over the fielders towards the third-man area for a four.
Ball 5: After bashing it hard to long-off, Miller decides not to take the single
Ball 6: Woods ends it up with a full toss outside off and Miller smashes it up towards the extra cover for four runs.
12 runs come off the final over as South Africa post a gigantic 222/6 after the end of 20 overs.
Subdued celebrations from Tom Curran as Dwaine Pretorius is caught-behind on 11 from 6 balls. A short delivery, which came considerably slow and the batsman tried to guide it just wide of the keeper, however, in the process to do so he gets a thick edge. Anyways neither South or him would mind that as he did a fair job in the middle. SA: 202/5 (18.4 overs)
16 runs come off Chris Jordan's final overs as South Africa are now 5 short from reaching the 200-run mark. Jordan gives 49 runs in his four-overs quota.
Tom Curran strikes and Heinrich Klassen's special innings come to an end. It was an uppish delivery and Klassen tried to whip the ball towards the covers. However, not the connection he was looking for as the ball hits the bottom part of his bat and balloons up in the air before it lands safely in Ben Stokes' hands. He departs on 66 from 33 balls. SA: 177/4 (16.3 overs)
With four sixes and one boundary, Klassen brings up his fifty in just 25 balls. A slower delivery by Mark Wood, probably an off-cutter, and Klassen makes goes to his backfoot to hit the ball over the mid-wicket fence. SA: 151/2 (14.2 overs)
Despite the odd breakthroughs, the runs keep coming for the hosts. It seems like Heinrich Klaasen has taken the control hammers and is allowing his partner David Miller to settle. He is playing on 40 from 23 balls as South Africa reach 141/3 after 14 overs.
Ben Stokes is doing the rescue work for England as he picks his second wicket of the match. A short delivery and Rassie van der Dussen tries to pull it towards the onside. However, the timing wasn't good as the ball hits the bottom part of the bat and flies to Tom Curran at deep mid-wicket, who makes no mistake at the end. SA: 113/3 (11.2 overs)
Bavuma and De Kock have set the perfect platform and now all depends on the South Africa middle-order to take it from here. Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen are out in the middle as South Africa reach 100/2 halfway through this innings. How much more can the hosts add from here in the final 10 overs?
England are back in the contest and this time it's Adil Rashid, who picks the danger wicket of Temba Bavuma. A quicker delivery, which skids after pitching and slips through the gate to knock the stumps over. Unfortunate for Bavuma as he falls short by one run to complete his half-century. SA: 86/2 (8.1 overs)
This is some top-class batting from Bavuma and De Kock as they seem unstoppable at the moment. However, just when you thought that the hosts have gained full control, England's world-cup hero Ben Stokes pulls them back in the contest. A full-length ball pitched close to the legs of De Kock, and he bends on his knees in an attempt to clear the boundary ropes. Decent connection, but the ball falls meters short from clearing the ropes as Bairstow waits at deep square leg and it goes straight down his throat. SA: 84/1 (7.4 overs)
Chris Jordan recovers well after an expensive first over. Just four runs come off the final powerplay over, something that England will relish at the moment. Meanwhile, De Kock and Bavuma give the hosts the start they were looking for as the pair adds 64 at the end of the powerplay. Bavuma is playing on 29 from 16 balls, while his partner is on 34 off 20 balls.
Quinton de Kock joins the party as he hits three sixes in a row. An uppish delivery by Chris Jordan, enough for de Kock to swing his arms. He connects well and the ball flies over the mid-wicket boundary. Jordan tries to change his length and this time comes up with a short delivery but it generates a similar result. The third time Jordan went for a yorker but no dividends in the end as the South African wicket-keeper batsman clears his front leg and smokes it over cow corner. 19 runs come from that over as South Africa edge-past the 50-run mark. SA: 52/0 (4 overs)
Beautiful connection from Bavuma. Doesn't show any discomfort against this rapid short ball from Wood. Gets into a great position and smashes the pull into the grass banks over deep backward square leg. SA- 33/0 after 3 ovs
Bavuma maintains his rhythm in the second over. After watching Tom Curran for the first few deliveries, Bavuma walks out of his crease and slices an overpitched delivery towards the mid-off region for a four. SA: 17/0 (2 overs)
The opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma have walked out to the middle to kick-off the proceedings in the series-decider. Moeen Ali to start England's attack as Bavuma faces the first ball. It was pitched slightly off, the perfect length to open his arms, and Bavuma slashes it towards the off-side for a boundary. He's off the mark in style. SA: 11/0 (1 over)
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin
England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler(w), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
South Africa have won the toss and have opted to bat-
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Here are some Supersport Park insights:
In a neck-and-neck series, both teams have traded jabs with each other, setting up what could potentially be a cracking decider at Centurion’s SuperSport Park. South Africa won the first T20I by one run, England returned the favour by winning the second by two runs. Who will win tonight? Stay tuned for LIVE UPDATES!