England fall agonisingly short against South Africa at T20 World Cup

“We’ve seen a couple of night games here [in the World Cup]. Some people have made that mistake [assuming it would be similar] – I’ve played a few CPL games here and it certainly doesn’t play the same during the day as it does during the night,” said De Kock.

England were happy to restrict South Africa to 163 and an asking rate of 8.2 an over was well within their wheelhouse considering their power.  But by the 12th over they had managed just five boundaries, lost their top order and the required run rate was over 11. They needed someone to see them home and be a hero. The closest was Brook with 53 off 37 balls including seven fours. He recovered from a slow start of 18 off 19 before unfurling his range of shots.

Along with Liam Livingstone he provided hope with a 78 run stand off 42 for the fifth wicket. South Africa wobbled, losing their composure under pressure but eventually closed out the innings clinically.

Brook and Livingstone scored 52 off three overs, rattling Ottneil Baartman, who bowled five full tosses in a 17th over that cost 21. England were back in it, with 25 needed off 18 but Livingstone clipped a full toss from Kagiso Rabada to fine leg as the game swung South Africa’s way again.

All hope was placed on Brook with 21 needed off 12. But Marco Jansen bowled a superb penultimate over, hitting the pitch with pace off, conceding only seven runs. England needed 14 off the last bowled by Anrich Nortje who struck a crucial blow first ball when Brook was caught superbly by a backpeddling Aiden Markram at mid-off. Even then England had a sniff when Sam Curran hit the third ball for four. Nine off three was doable but Nortje bowled full and Curran could not squeeze out the boundary needed.

England may well look back on the selection of Mark Wood, who bowled two overs for 22, and wonder if they should have gone with Chris Jordan’s slower ball repertoire. On such fine margins T20 can turn and that final place in their XI is causing them issues.

In Adil Rashid they have one of the bowlers of the tournament. His excellent four overs cost just 21 and he had a good week in St Lucia, going at five an over in two Super Eight games. The leg-spinner will be crucial if England qualify because of the slow pitches where the semi-finals will be played. Rashid, along with Moeen Ali and Archer, closed out the innings, South Africa hitting just 100, including just 10 boundaries after the powerplay.

Buttler produced a stunning run out taking a wide down the leg side and throwing down the stumps at the non-striker’s end to dismiss dangerman Heinrich Klaasen as England produced their best fielding performance. They look sharper generally but are now playing a waiting game. Again.

England lose narrowly to South Africa in Saint Lucia: As it happened