England won the toss and opt to bowl
63/0 in the powerplay and 100/6 in the next 14 overs. Excellent comeback from England after winning the toss and this is also the lowest total batting first at this venue in this World Cup. The spin duo of Rashid and Moeen pulled things back after the powerplay and never allowed the Proteas to run away with the momentum. Archer conceded 21 off his opening over, but proved his mettle in the next 3 as he conceded just 19 whilst picking up 3 wickets at crucial junctures of the game. England surely have the momentum, but they need to start well to ensure a smooth sail during the run-chase. Will the efforts from de Kock and Miller go in vain, or can England make it 2/2 in the Super 8s?
David Miller: Nice to get runs at the back end. We started well, went into a wobble in the middle but it’s due to the conditions. 160 is a good score. I hit it well but just a bit too flat. It started well (the pitch). Looked like it came on nicely. But it got slower and slower. It’s not too slow, it’s a good wicket.
Harry Brook played a sensational innings. He came in with his side in deep trouble. Had the idea to take it deep and take calculated risks. He targeted the right balls and zones to hit gaps. He was all set to take England home but a mishit when he just needed to connect to clear the infield and South Africa grabbed the game from his jaws.
South Africa should have won this easily. England should have won this easily too. Both played some poor cricket and one eventually lost to nerves. With just 164 to get and Salt getting a small but quick start, all England had to do was take it deep with wickets in hand but they found themselves at 61/4. Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers with KG and Baartman joining hands for a wicket each. But Brook had a clear plan and batted sensibly. Livingstone was middling pretty well and the Proteas started feeling the heat. KG leaked 18 in an over, Nortje followed up with a 13-run over but Baartman dished out five full tosses in a 21-run over to literally turn the game on its head. Rabada and Jansen came back for a great 18th and 19th over where they conceded only 11 off the two overs to leave Nortje 13 to defend off the final over. Luckily Brook mishit first ball and Markram took a great catch and Nortje managed to close the game out for his side.
Most consecutive innings with at least one wicket in T20 WCs
16 Anrich Nortje (2021-24*)
15 Graeme Swann (2009-12)
15 Adam Zampa (2021-24*)
11 Ish Sodhi (2016-21)
Keshav Maharaj spells in T20 WC 2024
2/22(4) vs SL
0/24(4) vs Net
3/27(4) vs Ban
1/24(4) vs USA
2/25(4) vs Eng
– Sixth win on the bounce for South Africa in T20 WC 2004 – the longest for them in the competition surpassing five successive wins in the 2009 edition.
Quinton de Kock | Player of the Match: It (the pitch) definitely doesn’t play the same as night games. It’s completely a different surface compared to the night games. There was a little bit of extra bounce early on. I try to carry on confidence game by game. We bowled really well in the powerplay, and we controlled it very nicely. To be able to defend 160 on a decent wicket is a good effort from us.
Buttler: Powerplay. Quinton came in with a lot of intent and we couldn’t quite match that. We pulled it back and were happy to chase that target but his innings was the difference. We came back well with the ball. Brook and Livingstone had a fantastic partnership to get us close and even look like favourites but credit to South Africa for closing out the game. Really valuable. He’s very understanding that you don’t get to face many balls in T20 cricket at that positions. He’s hitting the ball really well in the nets and backing himself. Looking forward to the next one.
Aiden Markram: Last three overs we had a lot against us but the bowlers had good plans and pulled it off. Message after the powerplay was it got slower. If I am greedy we were 10-20 short especially after the start we got. Not quite played a completely game of cricket but we are on the right track. Quinny (de Kock) has been good for us in the last two games. It was a bit nerve-wracking in those overs but it can happen. The plans were there just the execution wasn’t. I’m grateful that catch (off Brook) stuck.
So South Africa pick up yet another scratchy win but they have the points on the board and are unbeaten. As Markram said, they haven’t played a complete game yet but the crucial thing is different players have risen in different occasions. They said this was the best pitch for batting here but both teams found out it wasn’t the case and this in fact is the lowest team total batting first this World Cup here.