Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler unleash ferocious assault to propel England to No 1 T20 side in the world
South Africa vs England, third T20: full scoreboard from Newlands
Scyld Berry on England's use of signalling from their analyst
This was the real England. A brutal, ferocious assault with the bat propelled them to the top of the rankings in Twenty20 cricket and sent a signal of their World Cup ambitions that was as clear as the full moon that shone down on Newlands.
After winning the first two games in the final over, this was a blistering destruction of South Africa’s bowlers led by Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 99 from 47 balls.
Malan’s was a glorious display of stroke-making with 11 fours and five sixes, and a worthy performance from the No1-ranked batsman in the world. Confidence oozed from every shot and the only blot was that he fell one short of becoming the first England batsman to score two Twenty20 hundreds. "I need to go back to maths class. But I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single,” said Malan, referencing when he was given a dressing down by Eoin Morgan for failing to run a bye off the final ball of his T20 century last year.
It did not matter and Morgan knows how valuable Malan is to the side now. England’s nine-wicket win was an ominous warning to their rivals that did not need a Bletchley codebreaker to crack.
The ethical rights or wrongs of Nathan Leamon, the team’s analyst, holding up coded signs to Morgan while England were fielding will continue and other opponents could kick up a fuss, although in fact most will probably just copy the idea. “Analysis has become a huge part of the game. Eoin is a fantastic captain and an instinctive captain, he works closely with Nathan and it is just an offering of help on some match-ups,” said Buttler, the vice-captain.
Admittedly South Africa were without the injured Kagiso Rabada, and they are not a strong side anyway, but to chase down 192 with 14 balls to spare was a bloodbath.
Malan left one of the game’s finest Twenty20 batsmen, Jos Buttler, in his slipstream as the pair put on 167 off 90 balls, a record partnership in T20 cricket for the second wicket.
While Malan leaves the squad on Wednesday, Buttler remains for the ODI series and this was a timely return to form. He turned up the heat after a slow start to make 67.
It was a bruising night for bowlers in a game dominated by two stands. South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis put on 127 off 63 balls for their third-wicket partnership to set what appeared to be a daunting target. Not so.
Jofra Archer signed off for England duty until the India series at the end of January with one of his poorer performances. He was caught on his heels a couple of times while fielding, at one stage leading Stokes to shout “come on Jof, sleeping.”
His final over was the most expensive of his Twenty20 career, costing 22 runs, and England completely lost their way in the final five overs as Du Plessis and Van der Dussen smashed 84 runs.
It was a difficult night for England’s seamers with all apart from Stokes going at more than 10 an over. At least Jordan became England’s leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 cricket when he dismissed Quinton de Kock for the third time in the series for his 66th wicket.
Jason Roy’s poor run continued. He was leg-before in Anrich Nortje’s second over, and although there is no shame in being late on a 95 mph delivery, he needs the change of format on Friday.
Malan is in a totally different place. He made 14 off only three balls, enjoying the pace of Nortje and hooked Lutho Sipamla, playing for Rabada who has been ruled out the one-day series with a groin strain, into the stands for six.
Malan overturned an lbw decision to Lungi Ngidi’s first ball which Hawkeye proved pitched outside leg stump. De Kock’s miserable series was summed up when he missed a run out, failing to take a throw from the boundary with Malan short of his ground on 36. His half-century was not long coming, brought up with a crisp cover drive over extra cover.
Buttler hacked around for 23 off 24 balls until Simpala fed him some freebies, his first two balls disappeared into the stands. Suddenly Buttler had his timing back, his hands were faster through the ball and joined Malan with a half-century, off 34 balls.
The 100-run stand took 53 balls as overs 11 and 12 cost 40 runs to break the back of the run chase. Malan started the 18th over by cracking Simpala for a six that almost landed on the train tracks.
England needed six to win. Malan was on 94. He hit a four over extra cover to tie the scores. His only route to a hundred was a boundary, because the game would be over as soon as they ran a single. He tried, but could only force it into the off side, took the single, and looked rueful as he walked off. Never mind. One thing is certain, Malan will be batting at three for England in the Twenty20 World Cup next year.
07:46 PMFinally Eoin Morgan speaks
Both of us got it wrong at the toss [both captains had wanted to bat], the margin for error was really small, but the second half of our [bowling] innings we missed our execution and credit to South Africa's batting line-up. But [the pitch] got better and better and the guys established the partnership and won the game in such a commanding fashion.High-pressure situations, or when you are knocked back as a side or a person, it's a good intention of where you are at, to be put under that pressure was a good replication of tournament pressure. Encouraging signs.We need to put together an all-round game, we've progressed nicely, but as regards performance, striving for that collective performance is important.
07:44 PMQuinton de Kock speaks
It's disappointing, but they blew us away. They put our bowlers under lots of pressure, played cleverly and we couldn't stop them. We are not playing as badly as it is perceived to be, we are coming up against the English first-up and going forward the boys are confident.
07:41 PMMan of the match Dawid Malan speaks
The last two innings, I haven't hit them as well as I would have liked, so it's nice to get some momentum and the wicket played unbelievably well. After the start they had, we thought 190 may have been too many, but it skidded on under the lights and with a small boundary, not east to defend.I had the momentum, Jos didn't start as quickly as he would have liked, but it ebbed and flowed in the innings. I know I have the power, it's just putting it into place at the right times to win games of cricket.I knew there were five left [to get to a hundred], but I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single. I knew it needed a six but it went for four ... I hadn't calculated for that. I'll have to work on my maths.
07:38 PMNo1 batsman in the world and No1 team in the world
Dawid Malan now averages 53.53 in T20 international cricket - that is the highest average in T20I history. But that becomes more impressive when you combine it with the fact that only seven players in T20 internationals score at a faster rate than Malan's 149.47. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/K1cAznvtjP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 1, 2020
Finally Eoin Morgan speaks
Both of us got it wrong at the toss [both captains had wanted to bat], the margin for error was really small, but the second half of our [bowling] innings we missed our execution and credit to South Africa's batting line-up. But [the pitch] got better and better and the guys established the partnership and won the game in such a commanding fashion.High-pressure situations, or when you are knocked back as a side or a person, it's a good intention of where you are at, to be put under that pressure was a good replication of tournament pressure. Encouraging signs.We need to put together an all-round game, we've progressed nicely, but as regards performance, striving for that collective performance is important.
07:44 PMQuinton de Kock speaks
It's disappointing, but they blew us away. They put our bowlers under lots of pressure, played cleverly and we couldn't stop them. We are not playing as badly as it is perceived to be, we are coming up against the English first-up and going forward the boys are confident.
07:41 PMMan of the match Dawid Malan speaks
The last two innings, I haven't hit them as well as I would have liked, so it's nice to get some momentum and the wicket played unbelievably well. After the start they had, we thought 190 may have been too many, but it skidded on under the lights and with a small boundary, not east to defend.I had the momentum, Jos didn't start as quickly as he would have liked, but it ebbed and flowed in the innings. I know I have the power, it's just putting it into place at the right times to win games of cricket.I knew there were five left [to get to a hundred], but I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single. I knew it needed a six but it went for four ... I hadn't calculated for that. I'll have to work on my maths.
07:38 PMNo1 batsman in the world and No1 team in the world
Dawid Malan now averages 53.53 in T20 international cricket - that is the highest average in T20I history. But that becomes more impressive when you combine it with the fact that only seven players in T20 internationals score at a faster rate than Malan's 149.47. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/K1cAznvtjP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 1, 2020
Quinton de Kock speaks
It's disappointing, but they blew us away. They put our bowlers under lots of pressure, played cleverly and we couldn't stop them. We are not playing as badly as it is perceived to be, we are coming up against the English first-up and going forward the boys are confident.
07:41 PMMan of the match Dawid Malan speaks
The last two innings, I haven't hit them as well as I would have liked, so it's nice to get some momentum and the wicket played unbelievably well. After the start they had, we thought 190 may have been too many, but it skidded on under the lights and with a small boundary, not east to defend.I had the momentum, Jos didn't start as quickly as he would have liked, but it ebbed and flowed in the innings. I know I have the power, it's just putting it into place at the right times to win games of cricket.I knew there were five left [to get to a hundred], but I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single. I knew it needed a six but it went for four ... I hadn't calculated for that. I'll have to work on my maths.
07:38 PMNo1 batsman in the world and No1 team in the world
Dawid Malan now averages 53.53 in T20 international cricket - that is the highest average in T20I history. But that becomes more impressive when you combine it with the fact that only seven players in T20 internationals score at a faster rate than Malan's 149.47. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/K1cAznvtjP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 1, 2020
Man of the match Dawid Malan speaks
The last two innings, I haven't hit them as well as I would have liked, so it's nice to get some momentum and the wicket played unbelievably well. After the start they had, we thought 190 may have been too many, but it skidded on under the lights and with a small boundary, not east to defend.I had the momentum, Jos didn't start as quickly as he would have liked, but it ebbed and flowed in the innings. I know I have the power, it's just putting it into place at the right times to win games of cricket.I knew there were five left [to get to a hundred], but I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single. I knew it needed a six but it went for four ... I hadn't calculated for that. I'll have to work on my maths.
07:38 PMNo1 batsman in the world and No1 team in the world
Dawid Malan now averages 53.53 in T20 international cricket - that is the highest average in T20I history. But that becomes more impressive when you combine it with the fact that only seven players in T20 internationals score at a faster rate than Malan's 149.47. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/K1cAznvtjP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 1, 2020
No1 batsman in the world and No1 team in the world
Dawid Malan now averages 53.53 in T20 international cricket - that is the highest average in T20I history. But that becomes more impressive when you combine it with the fact that only seven players in T20 internationals score at a faster rate than Malan's 149.47. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/K1cAznvtjP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 1, 2020
07:37 PMJos Buttler on England's coded signals
The lads were checking their Euromillions numbers ... Eoin works closely with Nathan to work on the match-ups. In the IPL, you have two tactical time-outs for suggestions from analysts, but you have to be careful how you use it, there has to be an instinctive, intuitive side to the game.
07:29 PMEngland win by 9 wickets
Jos Buttler on England's coded signals
The lads were checking their Euromillions numbers ... Eoin works closely with Nathan to work on the match-ups. In the IPL, you have two tactical time-outs for suggestions from analysts, but you have to be careful how you use it, there has to be an instinctive, intuitive side to the game.
07:29 PMEngland win by 9 wickets
England win by 9 wickets
A brutal onslaught by Messrs Buttler and Malan drives England to victory with 14 balls to spare, a victory that makes England the No1-ranked T20 international side. They did not bowl particularly well at the death but the world record second-wicket partnership of 167 off 86 balls was a phenomenal response.
Malan ends on 99 not out, man of the match and man of the series.
South Africa have shown over three matches that they have talented players but lack consistency and proper on-field captaincy experience and expertise.
07:25 PMOVER 17.4: ENG 192/1 (Buttler 67 Malan 99)
OVER 17.4: ENG 192/1 (Buttler 67 Malan 99)
Can Malan make it to three figures? Sipamla helps by pushing it up into the slot. Malan drives it over long on for a skyscraper six. The next ball is pushed wide, too wide, and then Malan chips four over cover. He's on 98, the scores are tied and he pushes the next ball into the covers and jogs a single to win the match but leaves himself marooned on 99*.
It looks like he didn't know he only needed one to win but wears a rueful smile.
07:19 PMOVER 17: ENG 179/1 (Buttler 66 Malan 88)
OVER 17: ENG 179/1 (Buttler 66 Malan 88)
Nortje comes back for his final over and he gives Malan the hurry-up but the left-hander still manages to get some bat on his pull and top-edges it for four. He taps a single through cover off an open face and Buttler then cuts for four to raise the 150 partnership, only the fourth in England's T20 history.
England need 13 off 18.
07:16 PMOVER 16: ENG 168/1 (Buttler 60 Malan 83)
OVER 16: ENG 168/1 (Buttler 60 Malan 83)
A triumph for Ngidi who finds his length and variations to keep England down to three singles and make it a run-a-ball 24 off 24 required.
The partnership is 143*
07:12 PMOVER 15: ENG 165/1 (Buttler 58 Malan 82)
OVER 15: ENG 165/1 (Buttler 58 Malan 82)
Shamsi returns and the mystery spinner begins with something prosaic, a long hop. Buttler climbs into a pull, top edges it and still arcs it over the advertising hoardings for six. Malan reverse sweeps for four, short third man diving over his attempted stop, then launches the wrist-spinner over cover off the back foot for four. Remarkable stroke. One ball of the over to go and it does go, over long on for six. Malan is top of the ICC rankings as a T20 batsman and he is leading England to a victory that will take them to No1 too.
It has been a merciless assault.
England need 27 off 30.
07:07 PMOVER 14: ENG 143/1 (Buttler 51 Malan 68)
OVER 14: ENG 143/1 (Buttler 51 Malan 68)
Crikey! Malan almost hits Ngidi out of the ground, latching on to a shortish ball and pulling it cross-batted 94m in a horizontal plane and almost as far vertically. Ngidi then bowls a full toss that hits a foothold behind the batsman made by the bowlers coming in from the other end. It hits the edge of the indentation and takes off, spitting over De Kock's head for four byes. A couple of singles and a wide end the over as hope visibly drains from South Africa who need a new captain for this format. It'll be the ruination of De Kock otherwise.
England need 49 off 36.
07:00 PMOVER 13: ENG 130/1 (Buttler 50 Malan 61)
OVER 13: ENG 130/1 (Buttler 50 Malan 61)
De Kock brings Nortje back to try to apply the handbrake. And he does with two dot balls to Buttler after Malan pulls him for two and pops one off his hip. Buttler brings up his fifty with a flick off his pads but five off the over is a kind of victory for the bowler. But Nortke has only one left and everyone else is being slaughtered.
06:57 PMOVER 12: ENG 125/1 (Buttler 49 Malan 57)
OVER 12: ENG 125/1 (Buttler 49 Malan 57)
Shamsi continues and cranes his neck to watch as Buttler deposits him into the seats at deep long on. After a strike-rotating single for Buttler, flicking off his pads, Malan plays the most elegant of cover drives for four to bring up hos quickest T20 50 off 27 deliveries. He sweeps the next ball, hard and even through it comes off the top edge it lands about 15 yards back in the building site at deep backeard square. England's seventh six.
England need 67 off 48.
06:52 PMOVER 11: ENG 106/1 (Buttler 42 Malan 45)
OVER 11: ENG 106/1 (Buttler 42 Malan 45)
Sipamla returns, his first ball is length and outside off and Buttler carts it over long on for six. The next ball is shorter and Buttler pulls it high over square leg for six more. Buttler is batting so deep in his crease, waiting then striking like a cobra.
De Kock leaves the bowler to it. Not a word of consolation or encouragement or advice to the young man. He's a phenomenal talent but no way should he be opening, keeping and captaining. Buttler squirts a drive for two to the cover sweeper, Sipamla goes for a slow-ball bouncer but it trampolines over Buttler's shoulder and is called wide. Two singles give the bowler some respite before Buttler ends the over by withdrawing his front leg and flogging the drive through point for four. Twenty-one off the over.
06:45 PMOVER 10: ENG 85/1 (Buttler 23 Malan 44)
OVER 10: ENG 85/1 (Buttler 23 Malan 44)
Malan sweeps Shamsi very fine for four. It was a rubbish delivery - perhaps gripping is difficult in the drizzle - as it looped on to leg stump. Having bagged the boundary, they complete the over with two singles each as Shamsi finds his line and control again and the infield squeeze the batsmen.
Halfway: England need 107 off 60.
06:42 PMOVER 9: ENG 77/1 (Buttler 21 Malan 38)
OVER 9: ENG 77/1 (Buttler 21 Malan 38)
Buttler reverse sweeps Linde and the ball creeps under his bat. No run but there is one off the next ball, swiped down to point. Malan comes down the pitch to the left-armer and flays a drive through the covers for four. Malan shovels a stroke through midwicket with his bottom hand. Malan wants two and is beaten by the throw. He would have been out by a yard even at full-stretch but De Kock fumbles a perfect throw that bursts through his gloves. He takes the bails off but the ball had gone as he indicates to the umpires who still waste three minutes checking it.
It has started to rain. Only light so far.
06:37 PMOVER 8: ENG 69/1 (Buttler 20 Malan 31)
OVER 8: ENG 69/1 (Buttler 20 Malan 31)
Shamsi comes into the attack and his orthodox first delivery, the one that turns away from the left-hander, is reverse swept by Malan for four. He nailed that one. Malan cuts a single off the cue end, Buttler twists a single off his pads and Malan opens the face to a defensive push, playing with the turn down to short third man for one more.
Buttler can't time his pull off a long hop and can only hoick it square for a single.
💥 ROY FALLS FOR ENGLAND 💥
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) December 1, 2020
Another disappointing score for the opener as he is pinned lbw by Nortje playing across the line #SAvENG
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06:31 PMOVER 7: ENG 61/1 (Buttler 18 Malan 25)
OVER 7: ENG 61/1 (Buttler 18 Malan 25)
Lot of effing and, indeed, jeffing audible tonight. Linde returns to exert some control. It's not turning but his accuracy and variations in flight mean England have to settle for milking him for five singles.
06:29 PMOVER 6: ENG 56/1 (Buttler 16 Malan 22)
OVER 6: ENG 56/1 (Buttler 16 Malan 22)
Malan adds insult to Ngidi's injury by thrashing the next ball in front of square with a lovely cut shot for four. The left-hander drives through the covers for a single, Buttler works one off off-stump with a bottom-hand whip through midwicket and Malan steers a single down to third man. Ngidi ends his over that began with a celebration in despair after some floaty filth in the channel and Buttler creams it through the covers for four.
06:24 PMEngland review
England review
Malan lbw b Ngidi A question of where it pitched. Looked like it pitched outside leg but went on to hit. NOT OUT. It did pitch outside leg.
06:22 PMOVER 5: ENG 45/1 (Buttler 11 Malan 16)
OVER 5: ENG 45/1 (Buttler 11 Malan 16)
Sipamla comes into the attack, oversteps and Buttler plays a French cut, inside-edging it for a single. The free hit is short and rank. Malan pulls it hard for six. After defending a ball that was arrowing up and into his chest, Malan drops the next at his feet and hurtles a single. Buttler plays and misses, driving at one that scuttled under his bat and they complete the over with a single each into the legside.
06:17 PMOVER 4: ENG 34/1 (Buttler 9 Malan 8)
OVER 4: ENG 34/1 (Buttler 9 Malan 8)
Nortje starts with an 89mph back of a length delivery and Buttler crashes him for six off the front foot over midwicket, England's vice-captain thumps a single off the back foot through the covers. After Roy departs, Malan pulls a short ball for four. Nortje responds with a proper bouncer, fast and nasty. Malan winds his neck in and fends off decapitation. The umpire calls it wide and one for the over. So Nortje bowls a very rapid good length ball and Malan throws his hands into a drive and nicks it through the vacant slips for four.
06:11 PMWicket!!
Wicket!!
Roy lbw b Nortje 16 Fast, length delivery angled across the right-hander. Looked as if it might be sliding down as he took a stride across to whip it fine but he doesn't use the review. FOW 25/1
06:09 PMOVER 3: ENG 18/0 (Roy 16 Buttler 2)
OVER 3: ENG 18/0 (Roy 16 Buttler 2)
Linde does continue for once: Roy does a Viv, stepping to leg to hit over the offside for two, then throws the kitchen sink at two but can't time them. He sweeps hard for four, is offered a pie, a greasy long hop that he cuts hard but straight to a fielder's feet. He cries 'Oh no!' at the spurned opportunity but dances down to the last ball of the over and drives it over long on for six. Lovely stroke.
06:06 PMOVER 2: ENG 6/0 (Roy 4 Buttler 2)
OVER 2: ENG 6/0 (Roy 4 Buttler 2)
Anrich Nortje shares the new ball. Quick and full from the start and Roy breaks his bat digging it out of the blockhole.
A word from the chief, here.
Think Buttler might be struggling with his side. He looked to have tweaked it when shying at the stumps earlier on and just felt it after mistiming a cut shot
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) December 1, 2020
Roy gets new bat on ball by whisking two off his pads and then thick-edges a single down to third man. Buttler pushes a drive to cover, too firmly to run one, then hurriedly pulls a quick one through midwicket for two. Six for no wicket off two is a replica of SA's innings.
06:00 PMOVER 1: ENG 1/0 (Roy 1 Buttler 0)
OVER 1: ENG 1/0 (Roy 1 Buttler 0)
George Linde opens the bowling and starts with a dot ball, Roy pushing it to mid on. Roy belts the next ball to cover and they run one and Linde ties Buttler up for four dot balls. England's struggles v left-arm spinners has shades of KP. Surely De Kock will give him another over in this spell now.
05:54 PMKagiso Rabada update
Kagiso Rabada update
South Africa's best bowler has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series as well as today's match with a groin strain.
05:43 PMSA 191/3
SA 191/3
South Africa put on 127 for the fourth wicket off 63 balls and made 84 off the final five overs as England's supposed grim reapers forgot their scythes and were carted all over the park.
It looks like a very competitive total.
Sky is showing that England's analysis team have been posting some kind of signals on clipboards from their position at Newlands, a series of numbers and letters (2C etc), offering the captain some kind of insight or advice he is under no obligation to take, the coaching team has said. Apparently it was used by the Multan Sultans in the PSL.
England analyst using a series of number and letter codes to pass on information to @Eoin16 which he can chose to act on or ignore. So, 2B or not 2B, that is the question.
— peter hayter (@phaytercricket) December 1, 2020
05:38 PMOVER 20: SA 191/3 (Du Plessis 52 Van der Dussen 74)
OVER 20: SA 191/3 (Du Plessis 52 Van der Dussen 74)
Low full toss drifting on to the pads from Jordan to VDD who wallops it behind square for four. The next ball is wider and pushed up, going for the yorker. VDD drops to one knee and posts it over long off for six. Hand speed, timing and brute force.
They run two off an Archer misfield when VDD chisels the yorker out through midwicket and Jordan stops the drive off his own bowling to put a rare, late dot ball on his figures.
The fifth ball is a quick leg break, a half-volley and on a fifth-stump line. Van der Dussen smears it over long off for six. The last delivery of the innings is short, Van der Dussen pulls. Sam Curran catches it on the headlong dive but in fear of falling over the rope at full stretch he chucks it to Archer but it falls short of completing the relay catch. They run two.
05:32 PMOVER 19: SA 171/3 (Du Plessis 52 Van der Dussen 54)
OVER 19: SA 171/3 (Du Plessis 52 Van der Dussen 54)
Sam Curran will have a rare dart at the death. He starts with a wide, trying to trim that wide line but pushing it the wrong side. VDD chips two over cover and follows it with a single that drops short of both Tom Curran and Archer. It's his response to Sam Curran's width, slicing the ball and frustrating the bowler when the ball falls short of his brother who may have left it to Archer.
A wide to Du Plessis is followed by one that is an inch closer to the batsman and hence legal but Du Plessis has lined him up now and ends the over with three successive fours, the first on one knee through point, the next stretching to broomhandle it over mid-off and ending with the one that brings up his half-century by squirting it through third man.
05:24 PMOVER 18: SA 154/3 (Du Plessis 41 Van der Dussen 51)
OVER 18: SA 154/3 (Du Plessis 41 Van der Dussen 51)
What a stroke from Du Plessis, a lofted off-drive for a steepling six. Jordan was straining for the yorker but landed it too short but comes back with the next ball that is full and wide and unreachable, though legal, as Du Plessis stepped into the legside.
The next delivery is a rib high full toss, not exactly a beamer, but definitely a no-ball. Du Plessis plays it well with the splice, his quick reactions saving a broken bone. Jordan defends the free hit with an 89mph yorker that whistles past off stump and then reverts to the wideish yorkers that keep then down to two singles of the last three balls.
Stokes comes back on to field at the end of the over with a big plaster on his hand and a smile on his lips.
05:18 PMOVER 17: SA 145/3 (Du Plessis 33 Van der Dussen 50)
OVER 17: SA 145/3 (Du Plessis 33 Van der Dussen 50)
VDD picks Archer's slower ball and slog sweeps it deep into the pasture at cow corner for six. He spanks the next delivery through mid on for a one bounce four. He belted it and it went hard and flat and though Stokes got a hand to it, it bent his little finger on his left hand which then broke his fall into the advertising hoarding. He has a pretty deep cut now on his left pinkie and has to go off.
After a delay, VDD carries on where he left off, hammering a straight drive for four. Archer decides to stop the attack with brute force, bouncing him and forcing VDD to duck. But the next ball is full and in the slot and Archer thrashes it over midwicket for six more. A pull earns him a well-run two off the last ball and takes his tally to 22 off the over, Archer's most expensive in T20 cricket. Archer ends with 4-0-44-0.
05:10 PMOVER 16: SA 123/3 (Du Plessis 33 Van der Dussen 28)
OVER 16: SA 123/3 (Du Plessis 33 Van der Dussen 28)
Du Plessis takes on Tom Curran, standing in his crease and murdering a towering slog - half driven, half pulled - over the bowler's head for six.
Tom C, though, takes the pace off and makes Du Plessis play and miss. Two singles and a two follow until Du Plessis ends the over with another Dorothy Dix, a length ball that he smashes behind square on the leg side. He did it be opening his grip and the face, rolling his wrists the other way.
05:06 PMOVER 15: SA 107/3 (Du Plessis 20 Van der Dussen 25)
OVER 15: SA 107/3 (Du Plessis 20 Van der Dussen 25)
Chris Jordan, who made the breakthrough in his only over so far, bagging QdK for the third time in the series. Du Plessis works a single off his hip in front of square, VDD tries to kitchen sink a short one but is done by the lack of pace and cue-ends it to mid on for another single. Du Plessis bunts a single down the ground, VDD bottom edges a cut for another. After five singles off five balls VDD manages to pierce the infield by using his feet, turning a yorker into a low full toss and driving through midwicket for four, bisecting long on and midwicket.
05:00 PMOVER 14: SA 98/3 (Du Plessis 17 Van der Dussen 19)
OVER 14: SA 98/3 (Du Plessis 17 Van der Dussen 19)
Archer returns and, after Du Plessis skelps a four though midwicket, his hands splitting on the handle as if wielding a pick, smacks Faf on the index finger. Three singles end the over, each of them into the onside, none of them properly timed.
04:57 PMOVER 13: SA 90/3 (Du Plessis 11 Van der Dussen 17)
OVER 13: SA 90/3 (Du Plessis 11 Van der Dussen 17)
Du Plessis diddled by the googly but inside edges his attempted slog into his pad rather than being gated but after wedging a single over mid off he watches from the other end as Van der Dussen plays a wonderful pull on one leg for four. VDD dabs a single to cover and Rashid ends the over with two more dot balls to Du Plessis, ending his spell with 4-0-20-2, with half his 24 deliveries being dot balls.
04:53 PMOVER 12: SA 84/3 (Du Plessis 10 Van der Dussen 12)
OVER 12: SA 84/3 (Du Plessis 10 Van der Dussen 12)
The right-handers take two (Faf) and one (vd Dussen) to cover off Stokes, playing orthodox strokes to slower balls until Du Plessis goes for the ramp and tickles it off the bottom corner of the toe very fine for four. He glances a single, giving Van der Dussen one ball and he plays it magnificently, pulling hard and high from outside off stump at chest-height for six over midwicket.
04:50 PMOVER 11: SA 70/3 (Du Plessis 5 Van der Dussen 3)
OVER 11: SA 70/3 (Du Plessis 5 Van der Dussen 3)
Perfect conditions for Rashid as Du Plessis dare not risk a charge at him after the stumping and is kettled in his crease. He has to settle for two singles as does VDD.
04:47 PMOVER 10: SA 66/3 (Du Plessis 3 Van der Dussen 1)
OVER 10: SA 66/3 (Du Plessis 3 Van der Dussen 1)
Forgot to mention that Chris Jordan has moved ahead of Stuart Broad as England's leading T20 wicket-taker with 66 when he dismissed Quinton de Kock.
Only three singles off Stokes' second over as well as the wicket. He has been positively Dernbachian with his repertoire of slower balls today.
04:42 PMWicket!!
Wicket!!
Hendricks c Buttler b Stokes 13 Having dropped Hendricks off a difficult chance when Tom Curran was bowling, he pouches a good low one off Stokes. It was a slower ball and died on Buttler as he dived to his right but he got his fingers under it comfortably. FOW64/3
04:41 PMOVER 9: SA 63/2 (Hendricks 13 Du Plessis 1)
OVER 9: SA 63/2 (Hendricks 13 Du Plessis 1)
Brilliant from Rashid, building on his interrogation of Faf in Paarl, he ties him down for four dot balls and the only damage to his figures are two conservative prods for singles.
04:39 PMOVER 8: SA 61/2 (Hendricks 12 Du Plessis 0)
OVER 8: SA 61/2 (Hendricks 12 Du Plessis 0)
Ben Stokes starts with a pie, full, floaty and wide and Hendricks creams him through the covers for four with Kohliesque panache. Hendricks opens the face to glide a single through backward point, Bavuma ducks a bouncer then dabs two through point and drives two to long on. Stokes decries Archer for 'sleeping' and not limiting them to a single off that second one but he's happier when he lures Bavuma on to the rocks with a scrambled-seam slower ball to end the over.
04:36 PMWicket!!
Wicket!!
Bavuma c Jordan b Stokes 32 Oh dear, chips him straight to mid off. Another pretty cameo but SA can't find anyone to kick on. FOW 61/2
04:34 PMOVER 7: SA 52/1 (Bavuma 28 Hendricks 7)
OVER 7: SA 52/1 (Bavuma 28 Hendricks 7)
As if by clockwork ... Adil Rashid comes on for the seventh over and he bamboozles Hendricks and Bavuma who take two singles from the first five balls. One ball to Hendricks was a jaffa, dipping with drift then turning away from the edge, beating him and Buttler. Bavuma redeems the over with a fine shot, using the flight to get under an on drive, thrashing it over deep midwicket for six.
04:29 PMOVER 6: SA 44/1 (Bavuma 21 Hendricks 6)
OVER 6: SA 44/1 (Bavuma 21 Hendricks 6)
Tom Curran replaces Archer and the batsmen work him around for a couple of singles and a two. The pitch is dead and when Curran uses the cutter, the batsmen have to do all the work, putting all the force into the stroke ... or trust to luck as Hendricks does with a thick edge that would have been a dolly to first slip but hit the top of Buttler's right thumb as he soared up and to his right.
04:26 PMOVER 5: SA 36/1 (Bavuma 18 Hendricks 1)
OVER 5: SA 36/1 (Bavuma 18 Hendricks 1)
Chris Jordan is first change today and he comes round the wicket to De Kock. He starts with a slower ball that 'Quinny' shovels round the corner on the walk for a single. Bavuma stretches to cut a ball off the bottom three inches of his bat to the point sweeper for a single. De Kock has a swing at a slower ball and misses it then pops a drive off the top half of his bat, surprised by the regular pace, down Tom Curran's throat.
Bavuma almost joins him with a daft run to Stokes at cover. He swoops to his right and shies at the non-striker's, missing by a whisker. Neither the bowler nor Morgan at mid-on could get in to the stumps in time to catch it and whip off the bails.
04:21 PMWicket!!
Wicket!!
De Kock c Tom Curran b Jordan 17 Jordan has been messing with De Kock's timing with a sequence of slower balls, then delivers one at full pelt and De Kock cloths a straight drive to mid off who runs to his left to grab it. FOW 34/1
04:18 PMOVER 4: SA 32/0 (De Kock 16 Bavuma 16)
OVER 4: SA 32/0 (De Kock 16 Bavuma 16)
Archer continues at a steady 87mph, pitching it up to start and going for only a single off the first half of the over when Bavuma opens the face again and dabs the ball fine of point for one.
Archer ties De Kock up outside off stump until he walks across his stumps and flips it over his shoulder for four off a thick inside edge, deliberately, for four. Fine leg moves much finer but it makes no difference as De Kock uses those slick wrists to pick the ball off off stump and flicking it over deep backward square for six. perfect pick-up stroke.
04:13 PMOVER 3: SA 20/0 (De Kock 5 Bavuma 15)
OVER 3: SA 20/0 (De Kock 5 Bavuma 15)
First boundary of the day after De Kock walks across his stumps and flicks behind square. The throw from short fine leg would have beaten him to the non-striker's had it hit.
Bavuma pulls sweetly for four then carts the next from a ball that isn't as short from outside off with a bat halfway between vertical and horizontal for six. Three singles end the over after the two-ball onslaught restores some respectability to the strike rate.
04:10 PMOVER 2: SA 6/0 (De Kock 3 Bavuma 3)
OVER 2: SA 6/0 (De Kock 3 Bavuma 3)
Archer starts with four dot balls to the pint-sized Bavuma, the second of which hits the seam and veers away from a tentative defensive. A snorter. Bavuma middles the others but can't beat the infield until the fifth delivery which he pushes with his bottom hand dominance from a fourth stump line up the pitch to mid on, buying the time to sprint a single. De Kock plays tip and run, dropping the last ball at his feet via his pad as he loosens his grip and calls Bavuma through for one.
"I usually bowl with the shorter side on the leg side to give the other bowlers more room to play with" - lovely little nugget from Archer. #SAvENG
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 1, 2020
04:05 PMOVER 1: SA 4/0 (De Kock 2 Bavuma 2)
OVER 1: SA 4/0 (De Kock 2 Bavuma 2)
It is breezy, there are heavy clouds above Table Mountain and a hint of rain in the air. Sam Curran will take the new ball after side and hip stretches. De Kock clips the first, straight ball off his pads for a single. Bavuma opens the face to deflect a single through point and De Kock closes the face to push a single through mid on.
Curran puts a pair of dot balls in the scorebook with two shorter balls, one on Bavuma's hip, the other slower and outside off, which he taps down to point. The right-hander nicks the strike with a crisp tip and run to cover.
03:59 PMThe national anthems
The national anthems
Have been sung and we can get on with the match.
03:55 PMSA update
SA update
Rabada has 'a niggle' and Klaasen is feeling poorly - so no rotation with a view to the 50-over series, according to Michael Atherton. Their changes are enforced.
03:39 PMMorgan speaks
Morgan speaks
"We would have liked to bat first, it will take a little bit of turn, with the benefit of hindsight we'd have bowled differently in the first game, but today's a tough challenge. We thought of bringing in a spinner in Moeen Ali, but we don't want to take our winning momentum for granted with our best squad available."
03:38 PMEngland are unchanged
England are unchanged
No experimentation, then.
South Africa bring in Lutho Sipamla for Kagiso Rabada and also Pite van Biljon.
South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), 2 Temba Bavuma, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Reeza Hendricks 6 P van Biljon, 7 George Linde, 8 Lungi Ngidi, 9 Lutho Sipamla, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi.
England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Eoin Morgan (capt), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Tom Curran, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid.
03:33 PMSouth Africa win the toss
South Africa win the toss
And have chosen to bat.
03:27 PMGood afternoon
Good afternoon
And welcome to coverage of the third T20 international between South Africa and England. The touring side have won the series by dint of two tight victories in the opening two fixtures, propelled by the excellence of Jonny Bairstow at Newlands and Dawid Malan, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid at Paarl.
Given that the destiny of the series is not at stake, the time is ripe for some experimentation to give Sam Billings a chance in the top order and Reece Topley, Mark Wood and Moeen Ali some match bowling. Given that we know Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan will play, of they're fit, in the opening match of the World T20 next autumn, it would make sense to drop them today and give the other bowlers an opportunity to prove their worth, in Moeen's case as one of two spinners they will need in India, the other two as alternatives to the Curran brothers.
According to the Press Association England may well prefer to let Jason Roy hit his way back into form ahead of the one-dayers rather than shuffle the deck.
South Africa are still without Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller, though both are expected to be available for the next series. That means Quinton de Kock will go in with the core of a side that has been beaten thus far, with the captain explaining: "It's been disappointing to lose but I don't think we'll change much.
"We want to give our other guys opportunities but I think we do need a win for our own sake.
"We're going to play the best team we have and still try to win."
