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

1. Jonny Bairstow’s masterful 86*

The score was 2/27 in the 1st T20I, both openers banished to the misery of the pavilion, when England’s No 4 strode to the crease. It was the recently demoted Jonny Bairstow and his aura emanated of a man who was determined to make an undeniable point.

Bairstow, ably assisted by Ben Stokes, initially set about the considerable task of chasing 179 with vigilance, in recognition of the early wickets that were lost. However, this phase of necessary caution was not permanent as Bairstow was beginning to unleash his belligerence.

He utilised his ludicrously long levers to obliterate the SA bowling attack into demoralised fragments that had resigned to their inevitable fate. His innings was an invigorating fusion of inventive flicks and barbaric destruction. However, England’s batting threatened to crumble due to some valiant South African efforts but Bairstow resolved to glue the pursuit back together.

7 was required of the final over and the dreaded prospect of yet another super over was looming. Bairstow would have nothing of it as he concluded the 1st T20I in emphatic style with 2 lusty blows. Throughout this innings, Jonny Bairstow looked in eternal control and dominance despite playing in a vastly different role. Nothing ever seemed to deter him in his predetermined path to victory and that is what separated this performance from the rest.

~Written by Rahul Palaninathan