England versus South Africa 1st T20I: Records broken in first T20I match between England and South Africa

 The first T20I match between England and South Africa saw high scoring affair on a batting paradise played at County Ground, Bristol on Wednesday.

South African stand-in captain David Miller won the toss and decided to field first. Jos Buttler looked in great touch hitting 13 runs off Keshav Maharaj in the opening over. Buttler then smashed Lungi Ngidi for another six before David Miller's brilliance ended his innings. Jason Roy’s struggle continued as he was deceived by Ngidi to leave England in some trouble. At the end of the first six overs, England made 48 for 2.

Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan showed his class by taking Shamsi to the cleaners. After the end of 10 overs, it was carnage as both Bairstow, and Malan took use of short boundaries. Bairstow completed fifty off 36 balls. Andile Phehlukawyo eventually broke through dismissing Malan with a simple catch to de Kock. Bairstow and Malan added 71 runs for the 3^rd wicket.

Moeen Ali came to the crease and smashed South African bowlers all over the park. Moeen and Bairstow smashed Tristan Stubbs for 20 runs in the 16^th over. Andile Phehlukawyo was simply torn apart by Bairstow and Moeen Ali scoring 33 runs. Moeen Ali registered the fastest half-century by an England batsman off 16 balls. Lungi Ngidi bowled a superb over grabbing the wicket of Moeen Ali. Moeen and Bairstow added 106 runs for the 4^th wicket. The South African catching was disappointing as they dropped Jonny Bairstow four times. Rossouw eventually caught Bairstow for a brilliant 90. England smashed a total of 20 sixes including 8 by Bairstow, 6 by Moeen, 4 by Malan, and 2 by Buttler.

Chasing 235 runs to win, it was not an ideal start as de Kock, and Rilee Rossouw were dismissed cheaply. Heinrich Klassen and Reeza Hendricks showed intent on putting pressure on the England bowling. At the end of the first 6 overs, South Africa made 50 for 2.

Hendricks looked in decent touch completing fifty off 28 balls. Rashid dismissed Klassen with a good catch by Chris Jordan. Klassen and Hendricks added 65 runs for the 3^rd wicket.  Hendricks's innings came to an end caught by Sam Curran. Tristan Stubbs demonstrated great hitting while Miller struggled with his timing. Miller and Stubbs added 50 runs for the 5^th wicket.

Tristan Stubbs showed his class and completed his fifty off just 19 balls. Andile Phehulukwayo looked solid enough to keep South Africa in the chase. Stubbs scored with ease with 8 sixes and 2 boundaries. Stubbs and Phehlukawyo added 48 runs for the 6^th wicket. It was a tough ask as South Africa fell short of the target by 41 runs.

Lungi Ngidi registered his career-best T20I figures. Andile Phehlukawyo registered the worst figures by a South African bowler in the T20I format with figures of 1/63 from 4 overs.  England posted their 2^nd highest T20I total during the first T20I match against South Africa. Their highest total was 241 for 3 against New Zealand at Mclean Park, Napier on 8^th November 2019.

 

England 234 for 6 in 20 overs (Bairstow 90, Moeen 52, Lungi Ngidi 5/39) beat South Africa 193 for 8 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 72, Richard Gleeson 3/51) by 41 runs.

For his 52 off 18 balls and 1 for 27, Moeen Ali was awarded the man of the match award. The second T20I match will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff tonight.

A high-scoring affair between England and South Africa in the first T20I match at Bristol