Marvellous Dawid Malan 99* steers England to record chase and 3-0 sweep
England claim 3-0 series win thanks to unbeaten 167-run stand between Malan and Buttler
England claim 3-0 series win thanks to unbeaten 167-run stand between Malan and Buttler
Scorer: Venkat Raghav | Commentator: Andrew Miller
9.46pm So, that's your lot for the night. Another extraordinary display from England's irresistible batting line-up, for whom Dawid Malan is in an extraordinary vein of form. From Miller, Alan, Matt, Venkat and the team, good night and see you on Friday for the ODI opener!
Eoin Morgan "Both of us got it wrong at the toss, the margin for error was really small, but the second half of our innings we missed our execution and credit to South Africa's batting line-up. But it got better and better and the guys established the partnership and won the game in such a commanding fashion."
"High-pressure situations, or when you are knocked back as a side or a person, it's a good intention of where you are at, to be put under that pressure was a good replication of tournament pressure. It's encouraging signs."
"We need to put together an allround game, we've progressed nicely, but as regards performance, striving for that collective performance is important."
"A large group of guys have been practising 50-over for a week or so, a new challenge, a new set of goals, and a hard-fought series ahead."
Quinton de Kock "It's disappointing, but they blew us away. They put our bowlers under a lot of pressure, played cleverly and we couldn't stop them. We are not playing as badly as it is perceived to be, we are coming up against the English first-up and going forward the boys are confident."
Dawid Malan is Man of the Match "Last two innings, I haven't hit them as well as I would have liked, so nice to get some momentum and the wicket played unbelievably well. After the start they had, we thought 190 may have been too many, but it skidded on under the lights and with a small boundary, not east to defend."
"I had the momentum, Jos didn't start as quickly as he would have liked, but it ebbed and flowed in the innings. I know I have the power, it's just putting it into place at the right times to win games of cricket."
On his 99, "I knew there were five left, but I didn't know how it would go down if I turned down the single..." Interesting... Morgan's eyes are on him all the time.
9.34pm On the analyst's board in the dressing room, Buttler has this to say: "The lads were checking their Euromillions numbers. Eoin works closely with Nathan to work on the match-ups. In the IPL, you have two tactical time-outs for suggestions from analysts, but you have to be careful how you use it, there has to be an instinctive, intuitive side to the game."
"There's a hell of a lot of confidence in the dressing room, lots of guys going to the IPL, and Jofra getting MVP, gives me a lot of confidence."
9.28pm Well, what can you say about that? Here's Buttler: "Great fun, a great run-chase on a used wicket that played better today. Mal's consistency is phenomenal, the simplicity he bats with, very strong basics, and a lot of confidence and freedom. Some days you don't feel you are hitting well and get one away, but a couple of boundaries early set up a brilliant innings."
"His first innings was 70-odd v South Africa at Cardiff, and the key is simplicity, classical great cricket shots. There's healthy competition, Dawid's gone on when he's played well, and it's a nice side to come into.
"I've felt a little rusty, searching for something, but more relaxed today, decided to take some time and back my six-hitting. If I hit the next two for six I jump into a different position. Stay comfortable and calm, and when I get one, put it away."
"With left and right, you can always target the shorter side. It was time to come to the party."
9.24pm Handshakes all round, and a wry smile from Malan, who could not have done his job more handsomely. Jos Buttler was as distant a second fiddle in that world-record second-wicket stand as any player with 67 not out from 46 can be, and as for South Africa, they have an awful lot to ponder.
Matt Roller has been number-crunching, which is what he does in his sleep instead of grinding his teeth. "Four out of England's six highest successful chases in T20Is have come against South Africa - three of them this year."
Dr Adnan: "still trying to digest the fact that #1 ranked T20 batsman can't find a place in any IPL team" On this showing it may only be a matter of time, particularly if he can dispel the notion that he is a slow starter ...
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Malan had scores of 19, 55 and 99* in the three-match series, which took England past Australia to the No. 1 position in the T20I team rankings
Faced with a steep chase and an unfavourable match-up, Dawid Malan proved he is in England's best XI
England claim 3-0 series win thanks to unbeaten 167-run stand between Malan and Buttler