South Africa-England: Jonny Bairstow’s 86 no out seals victory in five fields

Jonny Bairstow achieved his highest international score of Twenty20 when England beat South Africa by five wickets in the series opener in Cape Town.

He was ably supported in an 85-race partnership with off-roader Ben Stokes, who made 37 of 27 balls.

Previously, Sam Curran, chosen over spinner Moeen Ali, recorded his best international T20 bowling figures when he won 3-28, including Faf du Plessis’s key wicket for 58.

South Africa’s total of 179-6 was 21 more than the T20 average total from the first inning at Newlands, and England were struggling at 34-3, but Bairstow’s brutality led them to an excellent victory with four balls to spare.

Game 2 of the three-game series will take place at Boland Park, Paarl, on Sunday at 12:30 GMT.

Bairstow shines in a new role

Before the game, England captain Eoin Morgan spoke about using this series to find roles and a batting order that players were happy with with the World Cup in India just 11 months away.

Bairstow may have found his at four.

Often known as a belligerent starter, he rescued England after Jason Roy fell in the first over and Jos Buttler moments later, and his ability to hold on to anything short and punish deliveries that were too full was immediately apparent.

Bairstow scored 49 of his runs through the middle of the wicket and the middle at 24 at length for Du Plessis as he and Stokes changed the game in England’s favor.

Even once Stokes went down, Bairstow showed maturity and kept his cool when Morgan was struggling early in his innings.

It paid dividends as a wayward 17 from Beuran Hendricks cost 28 runs, and Bairstow, on the ground where he scored his maiden of the trial century in 2016 – he completed the job with a four and a six from Lundi Ngidi.

Sam Curran selecting the bowlers

Morgan also spoke about consolidating seven or eight spots in the World Cup, but the number seven spot is one that’s up for grabs.

Despite the tournament taking place on the subcontinent and perhaps favoring Moeen’s option, Sam Curran is on track to clinch the position.

The left keeper has a cunning ability to scoop up terrain at crucial moments in the game, as well as taking out high-class players, as he demonstrated by firing Temba Bavuma and Du Plessis.

His ability to read conditions, know when to go for a variation, as well as whether to go bowling or over the wicket is constantly improving.

Du Plessis, whose place on the team was in doubt during England’s tour of South Africa in February, was excellent.

He, like Bairstow, got into the fold after an early window and played well on both sides of the window.

His innings gained momentum when he took Tom Curran for 24 in the fifth over, including two huge sixes.

England have managed just eight power-playing fields in nine games in 2020, and that will preoccupy Morgan with the biggest challenges ahead.

‘Jonny had an amazing day’ – what they said

Man of the Match Jonny Bairstow: “Cape Town seems to be one of my favorite fields. It is an amazing place to play cricket. It was a shame we didn’t have a special crowd to witness a game like that.

“I want to play cricket for England, that’s first and foremost. As long as I contribute and perform to win games, be it opening, hitting four or six, so be it.

“We will look to improve in the next game. There are people on our side who can take the game away from other teams.”

England Captain Eoin Morgan on Sky Sports: “It’s extremely nice. It’s a very good victory.

“We were pretty normal, apart from two or three guys. Jonny had an amazing day. Jonny and Stokes set it up really well, and winning when you’re not at your best is nice.”

South Africa Captain Quinton de Kock: “We thought it was a good total. But unfortunately it didn’t come out tonight.

“Jonny hit really well, he changed his game plan to the field and the conditions.”