England vs South Africa, 1st T20I Match Summary

This completes the formalities of the first T20I between England and South Africa. The hosts continued their dominance over the Proteas as they handed them a huge defeat. The visitors will be eager to come back strongly and turn their fortunes in this English summer. The second T20I will take place at County Ground, Taunton which will hold an international match after 1999. The action takes place on 23rd June at 1700 local time (1600 GMT). Catch you all for that. Till then, it's goodbye from us! Cheers!

Man of the Match, Jonny Bairstow (On his earlier injury) Says he was a bit short of breath and had a minor cramp, nothing more. Is pretty pleased with his progress as he has the shots now which he didn't 18 months ago. States he and his teammates just want to be the best they can be and be clinical as they don't want to leave it on anyone else. Credits the bowlers as they took wickets upfront first and then the spinners did the job later. Mentions they play the game to win, so it's enjoyable. (When asked about the wicket in Taunton) Reckons it should be a good high scoring pitch, so everyone's really excited to go there.

Eoin Morgan says that they were excellent today. Adds they put South Africa on the back foot early on as the Protea batsmen came hard at them. Applauds the spinners, who went on with their business and kept things tight for them. Says his bowlers did well against the opposition batsmen and also used the longer sides of the ground well to their benefit. On Mason Crane, he says that he knows he has the skill and they have been keeping an eye on him for a while. Further ddds that the whole squad's mentality is strong and not just of the playing XI and it was seen in U.A.E. when they shuffled their XI but didn't let go of the momentum. Praises Jason Roy with a big smile on his face and says that he gives the team a flying start and puts the opposition under pressure. He is full of praises for Jonny Bairstow and mentions that he is hungry for runs and never lets his team down.

AB de Villiers says the first ball he faced, despite being 1 or 2 wickets down, it was easy to use the pace of the ball. Adds England bowled really well with the new ball so credit to them. States after the 13th over, he and Behardien tried to go big, wanted something like 10 runs an over but couldn't do it. Continues saying a couple of overs while bowling in the first 6 didn't go their way despite starting well. Feels he's not sure what he would have done differently and says that it just didn't go their way. (On areas to improve) Says he could hear the crowd getting behind the home team, so it's a test of mental strength and states that skill level is essential because you have to hit the right areas more consistently as that's what makes the difference in the end.

Eoin Morgan's men lost just 1 wicket in the entire innings. Jason Roy, who got off to a blazing start, threw it again but he was the only one. Jonny Bairstow (who scored a brisk fifty) walked in to join Alex Hales (who just missed out on his fifty) and the unbeaten 98-run stand between them saw the hosts inflict South Africa's second biggest defeat in T20Is in terms of balls remaining. A day to forget for AB de Villiers and his men.

A decimating win for England, even more impressive considering they lost the toss to begin with. They started off by bowling really well. Didn't get many wickets but managed to choke the Proteas for runs, with the spinners standing out today. The Englishmen restricted South Africa for just 142 and when they came out to chase, made a mockery of it.

That will do it for England, they TAKE A 1-0 LEAD IN THE 3-MATCH SERIES! A touch ahead of a length outside off, Bairstow looks to push it on the off side but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls on the off side beside the pitch and Hales takes off for a quick single and completes it as well. Then pumps his fist in delight as ENGLAND WIN BY 9 WICKETS!

Banged in short outside off, JB lets it sail through to the keeper.

FOUR! Bairstow is in golden form! Short ball around off. There isn't much room on offer and Bairstow gets under it, watches the ball till the last moment and ramps it over the vacant slip cordon for a boundary. England just a run away from victory.

Andile Phehlukwayo to bowl again.

Served full around off, milked down to long off for a single.

Full outside off, lofted over extra cover. The long off fielder cuts it off and keeps it down to a brace.

Beaten! Quicker one, sliding away, Bairstow swings his bat but misses.

2nd T20I fifty for Jonny Bairstow!

FOUR! What a way to get the fifty! Full around off, Bairstow makes room and goes inside out through the covers for a boundary. Reaches his half century in only 29 balls.

Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Bairstow works it through square leg. He is quick and comes back for the second. Also the bad bounce in front of the keeper from the throw from the deep makes things easy for him.

Jonny Bairstow seems to be struggling with something. He's knelt down on the floor and called the physio out. Maybe he's had a cramp. Gets some fluids now, wipes his sweat off and is ready to continue.

Tabraiz Shamsi is back.

SIX! Bang! Hales makes full use of the life. Flatter delivery around off, Hales dances down and smashes it over mid-wicket for a maximum. Now, only 14 runs needed for England to win.

DROPPED AND FOUR! Tossed up outside off, Hales clears his front leg and tonks the ball high in the sky over mid on. Gets the elevation but doesn't get the distance and Behardien in the deep, sets himself up underneath it but makes a mess of the catch. The ball drops and rolls to the fence to make the matters worse.

Full on middle and leg, pushed gently on the off side for a single.

Another leg spinner on the shorter side, punched to extra cover for a single.

Another shortish delivery, cut to sweeper cover for a single.

FOUR! Tahir starts off with a shortish delivery, Bairstow goes back and punches it through covers. Phehlukwayo in the deep, covers good ground to his right, dives to cut it off but ends up parrying it back to the ropes.

Imran Tahir comes back on.

Shortish delivery outside off, chopped in the point region where Parnell makes a superb, diving stop to his right.

Length delivery around off, defended back to the bowler.

Angling into the batsman, worked down the leg side for a single.

FOUR! Innovative! Short and angling in, Bairstow shuffles across a touch, gets under the ball and helps it over short fine leg for a boundary. He is scoring at a brisk rate.