Jonny Bairstow powered England to a five-wicket win over South Africa in the first Twenty20 international at Newlands in Cape Town on Frida...
Jonny Bairstow powered England to a five-wicket win over South Africa in the first Twenty20 international at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
Bairstow smashed 86 not out off 48 balls as England chased down a victory target of 180 with four balls to spare.
England were struggling at 34/3 before Bairstow and Ben Stokes (37) changed the momentum of the match with a fourth wicket stand of 85.
Hear from @jbairstow21 after his 86* took us to victory in the first IT20 of the series! pic.twitter.com/ygZvDtTBy7
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 27, 2020
Even so, South Africa still had a realistic chance of winning as England went into the last four overs needing 51 runs.
But left-arm fast bowler Beuran Hendricks conceded 28 runs in the 17th over, including three wides which cost eight runs, as Bairstow and England captain Eoin Morgan went on the attack.
Morgan said the win was “extremely pleasing, given that we were pretty average apart from two or three players.”
Morgan said England’s bowlers “missed areas”, although left-armer Sam Curran claimed a career-best three for 28 in South Africa’s innings of 179/6.
And he was disappointed with the batting start, although he praised Bairstow and Stokes.
“Jonny and Ben rebuilding the way they did set up the win nicely,” he told SuperSport television.
Bairstow batted at number four...
