NEW DELHI: Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch shared four wickets as South Africa claimed a 14-run victory over England under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-shortened first T20I at Cardiff on Wednesday.
Persistent showers at Sophia Gardens reduced what should have been a 40-over contest to just 12.5 overs in total. England were left chasing a stiff revised target of 69 in five overs but faltered to 54 for 5, unable to keep pace with a daunting run rate of nearly 14 an over against South Africa’s disciplined attack.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Jansen (2 for 18) and Bosch (2 for 20) did most of the damage, while Jos Buttler (25) was the only England batter to reach 20.
Earlier, South Africa were put in to bat after England captain Harry Brook won the toss. The visitors raced to 97 for 5 in 7.5 overs thanks to a series of quickfire contributions. Skipper
Aiden Markram top-scored with 28 off 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes, though he enjoyed a slice of luck when Phil Salt dropped him in the deep. Donovan Ferreira was named player of the match for his unbeaten 25 off just 11 balls, featuring three sixes, while Dewald Brevis chipped in with 23.
England opted to rest Jofra Archer, who had starred with four wickets in the third ODI at Southampton, with Luke Wood taking his place. Wood impressed in the damp conditions, removing opener
Ryan Rickelton for a golden duck en route to figures of 2 for 22.
Reflecting on the chaotic contest, Markram said at the presentation: “It feels like madness, but you can think about things. It was swinging with the new ball, but you need one or two guys to make a cameo and you can reach a good score.”
England’s chase unraveled quickly. Salt holed out to Kagiso Rabada off the very first ball, while captain Brook followed for a duck. Jacob Bethell, fresh from his maiden professional century at Southampton, made just seven before skying Jansen to cover.
Buttler briefly kept the hosts alive before he too fell, edging Jansen behind. That left England needing 26 from the final over, but Bosch struck with his first ball to remove Tom Banton, ending any hopes of a late charge.
South Africa now lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second T20I scheduled for Friday at Old Trafford.
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