England v South Africa, 2017: 1st T20I – Statistical Highlights

Coming from a disastrous Champions Trophy, South Africa faced a shambolic loss against the hosts England in the first of the 3-match T20I series. After electing to bat, South Africa fought hard to post 142/3 in their 20 overs as they were 32/3 at one stage but AB de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien scored fifties to rescue their side, but both of them failed to accelerate.

England batsmen appeared to be batting on a different pitch altogether as they chased down the target at the cost of just one wicket and with 33 balls to spare as Jonny Bairstow scored a quick fifty. Alex Hales and Jason Roy too chipped in with contributions in the chase as South Africa registered their 5th loss in the 7 Internationals on this tour.

Here we look at all the stats and records created during the game.

3 – JJ Smuts is only the 3rd South African to be dismissed on the first ball of a T20I game. Other two are Richard Levi vs England in 2012 and Henry Davids in 2013 vs Sri Lanka.

6.94 – Run-rate of AB de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien’s unbeaten 110-run stand; the third lowest among the 105 century stands in the T20I cricket so far. The lowest is 5.88 by Scotland’s K Coetzer and R Watson pair in 2008 vs Kenya.

7 – JJ Smuts became the 7th player to face the first ball in an innings and bowl the first ball in an innings in the same T20I game. He is the first player to do so for South Africa.

14.3 – Overs in which England chased down the 143-run target set by South Africa; the 4th quickest chase of 140 or more in T20Is. New Zealand chased down a target of 143 vs Sri Lanka in 10 overs in 2016 while England needed 12.4 overs for chasing 140 vs New Zealand in 2013.

49 – Balls AB de Villiers took for his fifty in this game; the joint slowest fifty for South Africa by any player in T20Is. JP Duminy also scored a fifty in 49 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2013. Farhaan Behardien’s 47-ball fifty is the joint 2nd slowest along with two other fifties.

49 – Balls AB de Villiers has taken for his fifty; his slowest in Twenty20 cricket. The previous slowest was in 43 balls vs New Zealand in 2007.

58 – Balls faced by AB de Villiers in this game; the 2nd most by him in a T20 inning. He faced 59 balls during his 133* vs MI in 2015. Farhaan Behardien faced 52 balls which are the most by him in a T20 inning.

90 – Balls needed by de Villiers and Behardien pair to complete their 100-run stand; the 2nd most balls taken for any century stand in T20Is. K Coetzer and R Watson pair needed 102 balls for their century stand in 2008 against Kenya.

142/3 – South Africa’s total of 142/3 is the 2nd lowest total in a completed T20I innings for the loss of 3 or fewer wickets. Australia scored 137/3 vs Sri Lanka in their 20 overs in 2013.