A joe Root masterclass has propelled England to record the highest World T20 run chase and stun South Africa by 2 wickets in Super 10s.
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla struck half-centuries at the top while JP Duminy provided the late assault with an unbeaten fifty as South Africa posted a massive 229-4 after put in to bat in their Group One match at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
Chasing South Africa’s massive 229-4, England reached their target with two balls to spare in a thrilling contest to register their first win in two matches in the Group 1.
If South Africa, considered one of the favourites for the tournament, hoped they had amassed enough runs, they were in for a rude shock as England attacked their bowlers left, right and centre to post their highest ever T20 total and the second highest run chase ever in the format.
“The fact that we can pull off performances like that with the bat will give us lot of confidence for the rest of this group stage and hopefully further on in the tournament,” Root, still wearing his batting pads, told reporters.
“There is no better feeling than winning a game when you are up against it. I can’t wait to get back in the dressing room and celebrate with the rest of the boys.”
England, the 2010 champions, looked comfortable for most part of their chase before losing three wickets in seven balls towards the end but eventually reached their target with two balls to spare.
Jason Roy (43) and Alex Hales gave England a rollicking start, posting 48 in just 15 deliveries before both were out to paceman Kyle Abbott.
England looked to maintain their batting tempo though leg-spinner Imran Tahir tempered it with 1-28 in his four overs.
But Root, who was out in the penultimate over, hit six boundaries and four sixes in his 44-ball knock and added 75 for the fifth wicket with Jos Buttler (21), bringing the sizeable crowd to their feet.
England were on the receiving end of a brutal onslaught from West Indies opener Chris Gayle during Wednesday’s defeat when their spinners struggled to grip the wet ball and that prompted captain Eoin Morgan to field after winning the toss.
But Amla (58) and De Kock (52) tormented the English bowlers, plundering 96 runs off seven overs during an explosive opening stand.
South Africa opted to use Amla and De Kock as openers and it proved it was the right decision from the onset.
De Kock, who thrashed David Willey for 20 in the third over, hit seven fours and three sixes during his 24-ball knock before he fell to off-spinner Moeen Ali.
Amla, who was dropped on nine by Reece Topley off Ali, hit an identical number of boundaries before falling to the off-spinner.
Duminy (54 not out) and David Miller (28 not out) provided the finishing touches for South Africa with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 60.
England paceman Chris Jordan conceded four fours and a six in the fifth over and finished with figures of 0-49 in three overs. Topley gave away 33 in his two overs.
Brief scores:
South Africa: 229-4 in 20 overs (Amla 58, De Kock 52, De Villers 16, Du Plessis 17, Duminy 54*, Miller 28*; Moin 2-34, Rashid 1-35, Willey 1-40)
England: 230-8 in 19.4 overs (Jason 43, Hales 17, Stokes 15, Root 83, Morgan 12, Buttler 21, Moin 8*, Jordan 5, Willey 0, Rashid 0*; Abbott 3-41, Rabada 2-50, Tahir 1-28, Duminy 1-31)
Result: England win by 2 runs
Man-of-the-Match: Joe Root (England)
Source: Bd news24