ICC World Twenty20: Joe Root stars as England trump South Africa in run feast
Mumbai: England pulled off a heist to trump South Africa chasing 230-run target to stay afloat in the ICC World Twenty20 in Mumbai on Friday. In what was a run feast, Poms kept their cool and cashed in on the Proteas’ loose bowling to secure a stunning five-wicket win.
Asked to chase down a mammoth total, England had no other option but to go for their shots and they did just that. Jason Roy smashed Kagiso Rabada for 21 runs in the first over of England’s chase hitting four fours. The onslaught continued as Roy and Alex Hales hammered 23 runs off Dale Steyn’s first over.
Faf du Plessis made a bowling change and introduced Kyle Abbott into the attack and that moved paid off straightway as the South African pacer dismissed Alex Hales (17 runs from 7 balls).
However, Roy continued his merry ways as England brought up their fifty in the third over.
Jason Roy was ruthless as he took apart Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav / DC)
The England right-hander had set the hearts racing (43 runs from 15 balls) but Abbott struck once again as South Africa managed to cut short Roy’s stay in the middle.
Joe Root, who walked in to bat at number 4, joined Ben Stokes in the middle. South Africa, although leaked more runs than England in the Powerplay overs, managed to scalp another wicket after Ben Stokes failed to cash in on Rabada’s fulltoss and was caught in the deep by Chris Morris.
South Africa were quick to add one more blow to England’s chances as JP Duminy castled Eoin Morgan in the tenth over of the chase.
However, England did not throw in the towel as Joe Root took matters in his own hand with Jos Buttler providing him a much needed support. The duo brought up the fifty-run stand in 21 balls without pressing the panic button. The South African bowlers leaking runs also helped the matters as England moved to 170-run mark in the 14th over.
Joe Root, who is one of the best modern-day batsmen, lived upto his reputation, as he completed his third international T20 fifty in 29 balls. The Yorkshire lad, although played some cheeky shots, kept his head as England moved closer to a special win.
But South Africa, who were crowd’s favourites, pulled things back after Jos Buttler got out stumped in the 16th over. There was no shortage of drama as Quinton de Kock lost control over the ball as it flew. However, thankfully for Imran Tahir and the Proteas, de Kock had dislodged the bails when the ball was still in his contact.
England needed 42 from 24 balls with Joe Root and Moeen Ali in the middle. Joe Root’s dazzling batting display brought the equation down to 11 runs from 12 balls. The star England batsman though had to perish (83 runs from 44 balls) after he miscued a fulltoss from Rabada.
But by then, England were in a touching distance of victory. Although South Africa’s brilliance in the field saw Chris Jordan and David Willey got out on consecutive deliveries, it only delayed the inevitable as Moeen Ali, who had earlier picked two wickets, helped England to cross the finish line with two balls and three wickets to spare.
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were over the mood after the former hit the winning runs. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav / DC)
Earlier, although it was eventually not enough, South Africa made an absolute mockery of England’s bowling attack amassing 229 runs batting first.
Quinton de Kock continued his love affair with Wankhede Stadium as the South African left-hander took England’s opening bowlers to the cleaners. The diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman raced to 36 in just 15 balls with zero trouble.
The youngster, who had the scores of 56 not out (a warm-up game against India) and 109 at the venue, continued his fine form.
Meanwhile Hashim Amla, who is the leading run-getter in T20s whenever these sides have locked horns, was an absolute delight. While there were a handful of aerial shots from the former South African Test skipper, he batted with a surgeon’s precision instead of cutting through the English attack like a butcher.
The South African opening pair of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock were on a roll after the Faf du Plessis-led side was put in to bat first. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav / DC)
South Africa amassed 83 runs as the Powerplay came to an end.
However, there was some relief for England as de Kock, who brought up his first fifty in international T20 in 21 balls, got out in the eight over bowled by Moeen Ali.
Adil Rashid doubled the England’s happiness as he dismissed AB de Villiers, who walked in to bat at number three ahead of skipper Faf du Plessis, for 16. Hashim Amla though kept his cool and got past fifty-run mark in 25 deliveries.
Adil Rashid celebrates after dismissing AB de Villiers for 16. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav / DC)
Although England had managed to send AB de Villiers packing, South Africa were cruising having scored 125 runs in the first ten overs.
However, Amla’s departure in the 12th over kept England in the game. The South African opener scored 58 in 31 balls before Moeen trapped him before the wickets.
Although skipper Faf du Plessis could not offer much with the bat (17 runs from 17 balls), JP Duminy (54 in 28 balls) and David Miller’s (28 off 12 balls) 27-ball 60-run stand powered South Africa to a mammoth total of 229 runs.
