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Taunton: Having suffered a pounding in the first game, South Africa must find a way to regroup quickly if it is to stay alive in the three-match Twenty20 International series against England.
A solid bowling performance followed up by a blistering unbeaten half-century from Jonny Bairstow propelled England to a commanding nine-wicket win in the first T20I in Southampton on Wednesday.
Both teams are without several first-choice players as they build up to the Test series starting next month, giving the bench a go in what is still a clash between two strong sides. England was on the ball in Southampton from the time AB de Villiers chose to bat, David Willey getting the home side off to the perfect start with the scalp of Jon-Jon Smuts with the first ball of the series.
Bowling quickly and with control, Mark Wood then accounted for Reeza Hendricks and David Miller, and even though de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien strung together an unbroken 110-run partnership, they took 95 deliveries in doing so.
AB de Villiers was unusually subdued by his high standards, taking 58 deliveries for his unbeaten 65 while Behardien was slightly faster in comparison, making his 64 not out off 52 deliveries.
South Africa was totally tied down by Liam Dawson, the left-arm spinner, and Mason Crane, the debutant legspinner. Between them, the two only conceded 41 runs in eight overs to put a spoke in the South African wheel.
England hunted down the modest target of 143 for the loss of just Jason Roy, who put his lean recent form behind him to smack 28 off just 14 deliveries. Bairstow provided the thrust by hammering six fours and two sixes in his 35-ball 60 as England coasted home with a massive 33 deliveries to spare.
South Africa will look for more substance from its top order and a telling final kick if it is to keep pace with an England batting line-up that has exceptional firepower even in the absence of the rested pair of Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
For that, how it tackles the spinners in the middle overs will be crucial. Having already clinched the One-Day International series between the sides 2-1 before the start of the Champions Trophy, England can secure the T20I series too to take loads of momentum into the four-Test series starting at Lord’s on July 6.
Teams from:
England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, David Willey, Mark Wood.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, JJ Smuts, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Morne Morkel, JJ Smuts.
Pitch and conditions
The weather has retreated from the white heat of the past few days, but a pleasantly cloudy afternoon is in prospect.
Stats and trivia
As if Buttler needs any greater incentive to angle for a promotion up the order, he needs another 57 runs to complete 1000 runs in T20I cricket.
Match facts
Friday June 23, 2017 (d/n)
Start time: 5pm local (1600 GMT)
