Quinton de Kock’s forceful half-century was the highlight of South Africa’s innings as they were restricted to 163 for six by England in their Group 2 Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia. Despite a strong start, South Africa’s momentum was halted by England’s excellent bowling and fielding, setting up a thrilling contest.

England’s decision to field

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to field first, a decision influenced by the conditions and the team’s strength in chasing totals. England’s strategy was clear: restrict South Africa to a manageable total and leverage their deep batting lineup to chase it down.

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South Africa’s explosive start

South Africa started with a bang, thanks to some lusty blows from Quinton de Kock. The team managed to keep all wickets intact at the end of the Powerplay with 63 runs on the board. While de Kock was aggressive, Reeza Hendricks played a more cautious innings, providing stability at the other end.

England’s comeback

England staged a remarkable comeback after the Powerplay, primarily through their spin duo of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. The spinners pulled things back significantly, never allowing the Proteas to run away with the momentum.

Quinton de Kock’s innings

Quinton de Kock’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting. He scored 65 off 38 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes, setting a solid foundation for South Africa. His performance was pivotal in giving South Africa a fighting chance.

Middle overs struggle

Following the Powerplay, South Africa struggled to maintain their momentum. England’s bowlers tightened the screws, resulting in the loss of crucial wickets. The pressure exerted by the spinners, particularly Adil Rashid, was instrumental in this phase.

David Miller’s contribution

David Miller played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings after a torrid period of batting. He managed to get some boundaries in the death overs, scoring 43 off 28 balls. His partnership with Tristan Stubbs helped South Africa cross the 160-run mark.

England’s bowling highlights

Adil Rashid was the standout bowler for England, delivering an economical spell of 4-0-23-1. Jofra Archer, despite conceding 21 runs in his opening over, bounced back strongly to take 3 wickets for 40 runs. His performance was crucial in restricting South Africa.

The total of 163 is significant as it is the lowest first-innings total at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in this World Cup. This record highlights England’s effective bowling and fielding strategies that curtailed South Africa’s run-scoring.