England v South Africa, 2nd T20I Review: Protea fire stuns the hosts in last ball thriller

After a brutal win over South Africa in the first T20I at Southampton, team England marched ahead to Taunton to seal things off in the series. The stage was set for the second game of the three match T20I series between the two competent nations. For the hosts, it was all about continuing their domination. On the other hand, the Proteas team had to win the match to keep the series alive.

The way they were beaten in the first game sent them back with some real introspection to be done. Coming into the game, it was team England that won the toss and opted to bowl first. They made three surprising changes to their lineup. Opener Alex Hales made way for Sam Billings at the top order. With Billings, a member of the side in the first game as well, promoted, the spot for Liam Livingstone was created in the lineup.

Young leggie Mason Crane made way for Liam Dawson. The third change saw Tom Curran making it to the side at the expense of Mark Wood. On the other hand, South Africa pretty much stuck to the same permutations with Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorious, and Wayne Parnell benched. Dane Paterson got a go in the match.

In walked JJ Smuts and Reeza Hendricks to open the innings for South Africa. Tom Curran struck early with the new balls to send Hendricks back to the pavilion on 7 in the 4th over. Mangaliso Mosehle was the new man in. He hit a six and a four to show great promise but ended up edging one to Jos Buttler off the bowling of Liam Plunkett on 15. In-form batsman AB de Villier walked in at number 4 to join Smuts.

Smuts, on the other end, had looked in fine touch. He started to accelerate as the innings approached the half way mark. He hit 45 off 35 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes before being dismissed in the 11th over by Dawson. David Miller (8) had a very short stay and perished a couple of overs later.

Meanwhile, AB entertained with 3 towering sixes and 4 fours in his whirlwind knock of 20-ball 46. David Willey undid him in the 15th over. Towards the end, the wickets started to fall like ten pins and the Proteas innings did not get the kind of super finish they needed. From being 113/3 in 13 odd overs, they surely would have loved to breach the 200-run mark. A 21-ball 32 from Farhaan Behardien saw South Africa finish with 174/8 in their 20 overs.

And the run chase

In the run chase, Jason Roy had a new partner in Sam Billings at the crease. Billings had a very good opportunity to show his mettle with the bat. But the youngster failed to deliver and was dismissed on 3 in the very second over by Chris Morris. In walked the run machine – Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow and Roy wreaked havoc on the Proteas bowling attack. Bairstow seemed to have continued from where he had left in the previous game.

Meanwhile, Roy looked a tad better on the day with free flowing boundary shots. They helped England cross the 50-run mark in the powerplay. Things only got better from there. They ended up added 110 runs in just 70 balls for the second wicket. In the process, Roy notched up a very desperately needed fifty. On the other hand, Bairstow missed the milestone by just 3 runs as his departure in the 14th over saw the hosts lose their second wicket.

He scored 47 off 37 balls with 8 fours and a six. Liam Livingstone was promoted ahead of Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler in the lineup. What followed was absolutely bizarre. Jason Roy, who was looking so good with the bat, ended up being out obstructing the field. The throw from the fielder came his way and he was seen running in the direction of the throw.

Albeit the on-field umpire gave a not out soft signal, the third umpire ruled it in the favor of South Africa. A fuming Roy had to depart with 67 to his name that came off 45 balls with 9 fours and a six. Jos Buttler (10) perished soon after to bring Eoin Morgan to the crease. With 20 needed off the final two overs, it could have been anybody’s game. Dane Paterson managed to do it all in the penultimate over.

He broke the bat of Livingstone, got hit for a four by Morgan, and then dismissed him. 12 runs were needed off the final over with Liam Dawson and Livingstone at the crease as Andile Phehlukwayo took the ball. After three singles, the hosts lost Livingstone (16) in a run out. 8 was needed off the last two balls with Dawson on strike. Dawson hit one to long off that went for a four. With 4 needed off the final delivery, Dawson ended up missing it totally to hand Proteas a thrilling three run win.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 174/8 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 46, Smuts 45, Curran 3/33, Plunkett 2/36)

England 171/6 in 20 overs (Roy 67, Bairstow 47, Morris 2/18, Paterson 1/32)

Check full scorecard here.