Following South Africa’s 2-1 series win over England, here’s our team of the series.
Reeza Hendricks
180 runs @ 60, SR: 156.52
Three consecutive half-centuries for Hendricks saw him finish comfortably as the leading run-scorer amongst both sides. The finest series of his international career so far.
Jos Buttler
65 runs @ 21.66, SR: 209.67
Still waiting for his first series win as full-time skipper and couldn’t deliver a substantial score. Still, his first couple of cameos were destructive, with a 7-ball 22 at Bristol setting England on their way to a colossal total.
Rilee Rossouw
131 runs @ 65.5, SR: 170.12
Back on the international scene after more than six years away, Rossouw bounced back from a score of 4 in the first T20I to then smash an unbeaten 96 off just 55 balls in the second match of the series. It took a special delivery from Moeen Ali to stop him from causing similar damage in the final match.
Jonny Bairstow
147 runs @ 49, SR: 141.34
Struggled to get going in the final T20I, but was at his blistering best in the opener, smashing 90 off just 53 balls as England put up 234-6.
Aiden Markram
51 runs, SR: 141.66
Just the one innings in the series, and he used it well: an unbeaten 51 off 36 balls lifted South Africa to a series-winning total of 191-5. Picked up the wicket of Moeen too.
Tristan Stubbs
95 runs @ 47.5, SR: 215.9
Announced himself on the international stage with a stunning 72 off just 28 balls in the first T20I in a losing cause. In the final T20I he took an outrageous diving catch to dismiss Moeen off Markram’s bowling.
Moeen Ali
83 runs @ 27.66, SR: 207.5; 3 wickets @ 16, ER: 9.6
Smashed England’s fastest ever T20I half-century in the opener, taking just 16 balls to get there. Bowled the dangerous Rossouw in the final T20I to finish with a wicket in each match of the series.
David Willey
3 wickets @ 8.33, ER: 6.25
In for the series finale, Willey struck a huge blow in his first over, getting Quinton de Kock to drag the ball onto his stumps. Took the final over too, picking up a couple more wickets to finish with handy figures of 3-25.
Keshav Maharaj
3 wickets @ 29.66, ER: 7.62
Held his own in a run-fest at Bristol, going at less than eight an over, and put on the brakes in the decider, taking the new ball to get rid of Buttler for 14.
Lungi Ngidi
7 wickets @ 8.57, ER: 6.92
Marvelled with his off-cutter in the first two T20Is, finishing with a remarkable five-wicket haul at Bristol as England’s batters made hay.
Tabraiz Shamsi
8 wickets @ 12.5, ER: 9.09
After taking some tap in the opener – figures of 0-49 from his three overs – Shamsi responded with a three-for in the next T20I and then five wickets in the finale, his wrist-spin picking up regular wickets as the equation became tougher and tougher for England.
