A tale of England’s collapse to lose the first T20I against South Africa
With 46 required from 35 and Jason Roy cruising alongside Eoin Morgan, England looked set to take the opening game of the T20I series with South Africa. Then this happened…
14.2 Jason Roy 70 (c Lungi Ngidi b Beuran Hendricks) – 132-3
Having been pummelled for four through midwicket from the first ball of his match, Hendricks needs a strong response and a slower ball off-cutter, which is both wide and short, is toe-ended to short fine leg. It appears to be a consolation prize.
15.3 Joe Denly 3 (c Rassie van der Dussen b Andile Phehlukwayo) – 137-4
With England desiring a right-hander to complement the left-handed Morgan, Joe Denly – on the back of two consecutive half-centuries in ODI cricket – is promoted up the order, but it’s a short stay. Andile Phehlukwayo, slower-ball connoisseur, drops short but Denly swats it to van der Dussen at deep midwicket. Ben Stokes, who knows a thing or two about these types of finishes, enters the fray.
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17.4 Ben Stokes 4 (c David Miller b Lungi Ngidi) – 152-5
He can’t do it this time round! Stokes brings out the slog-sweep – eyeing up that shot against Trent Boult in the World Cup final – but the off-cutter takes the pace off and the left-hander’s hit travels safely into David Miller’s hands.
18.5 Beuran Hendricks to Eoin Morgan, SIX
Morgan hits 14 in the space of three balls to swing the match back England’s way. The six is the one that rounds off the sequence and takes him to a 33-ball half-century, and it’s not a bad shot either. England’s captain, to put it bluntly, wallops the ball over the off side with an almighty slap. With seven needed from seven, England are in pole position.
18.6 Eoin Morgan 52 (c Temba Bavuma b Beuran Hendricks – 171-6
But Hendricks strikes back! Rather than look to get himself back on strike, Morgan goes for the big hit down the ground but holes out to Temba Bavuma at wide long-on. An age is spent by the third umpire in deciding whether Hendricks has overstepped the line, but the on-field decision is not overturned.
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19.2 Tom Curran 2 (c David Miller b Lungi Ngidi) – 173-7
After running two from the first ball of the over, Curran gets plenty of air-time with a hit towards midwicket, but he can’t clear the rope. Once again it’s Miller’s safe hands that do the business.
19.4 Lungi Ngidi to Moeen Ali, two runs
After Moeen swings and misses from his first ball, he somehow manages to get the ball to dribble for two through midwicket. South Africa review thinking it’s hit him on the pad, but an inside edge crushes their hopes.
19.5 Moeen Ali 5 (b Lungi Ngidi) 5 – 175-8
The stumps are flashing! Moeen’s unconvincing stay is put to a close as Ngidi gets the fingers to cut the ball once more, and the delivery drops and sneaks through Ali’s charging swipe.
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19.6 Adil Rashid 1 (run out) – 176-9
The moment the ball leaves the bat, the game’s up. Dale Steyn picks it up and safely underarms it from midwicket to Quinton de Kock to end a thriller. No super over today!
