Top 5 outstanding individual performances from the SA vs ENG T20I series

2. Dawid Malan’s valiant 55

It was a pitch with a distinct lack of bounce. Because of this, the South African batsmen could only trudge to a measly 146/6 due to England’s excellent containment in the second T20I. When it was England’s turn to bat, they needed someone to stand up.

Dawid Malan did not appear to be in prime form; he was severely struggling to simply time the ball and his dismissal was looking inevitable to the outside viewer. He, however, refused to lose patience as Malan understood that time was not a factor in this run chase. He limped courageously to 24 off 27 at the fall of the 14th over while 3 wickets had crumbled around him.

He bided his time until, suddenly, the southpaw had chosen his optimal time to strike. Malan had been gradually building up in momentum until his waiting had reached a culmination point. The unfortunate victim of this sudden onslaught was Lungi Ngidi; Malan slapped 16 runs off 4 balls with brutal precision. The striking on display was truly sublime and the timing was even better so.

It was certainly an innings worthy of the No.1 T20I batsman in the world and the IPL teams would have taken keen notice of it definitely. The reason this unspectacular knock just pipped Malan’s brilliant 99* is the importance of the fixture. If England lost, South Africa would draw the series level hence a glimmer of hope would rose from the SA camp and the outcome could have been different to the 3-0 drubbing that is now.

Malan’s 55 was the sole force that prevented an England loss and the pressure that comes with achieving such a feat is worthy of recognition.