Nasser Hussain reflects on England’s seven-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup in St Lucia. The result means Jos Buttler’s side need to beat the USA in Barbados on Sunday to qualify for the semi-finals…
England fought hard and defended well but I think the powerplay gave South Africa the win. [scoring 63-0 compared to England’s 41-1].
It was a great time to bat on a slow and slightly dry pitch and Quinton de Kock was superb during that period.
I think we lost it on the power play. Quinton [De Kock] He came out and played with really good intent and we just couldn’t match it. Quinney really put us under a lot of pressure and had some great shots and we just couldn’t make it. We had a great time to score but we just didn’t make the most of it when it was our turn and he certainly did that.
England are in second place in Group 2 of the T20 World Cup Super 8
South Africa were leading by 21 runs in Jofra Archer’s over before the batting began to get difficult.
Although England lost, they have already secured Super 8 points with their win over the West Indies so there is no need to be pessimistic.
England are in a somewhat fragile position and there will be pressure to win the USA game, but they are playing some good cricket and if they carry that form into Barbados they will be fine.
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Highlights from the USA vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup, where the USA pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
But the U.S. will be hoping to pull off another upset after beating Pakistan earlier in the tournament, and they are a very good team so they will be playing with the same force they would against other teams like Australia and South Africa.
Give them the respect they deserve, try to win games and then think about the net run rate because qualification may depend on it.
England combine well while South Africa show strength
As for the pitchers, I think England have picked the right combination by including Reece Topley, who did not start in this tournament, but their trump cards are Archer and Adil Rashid.
England’s Jofra Archer is their ‘trump card’, says Nasser Hussain
Rashid has been in good form this tournament and although he is not always taking four-five wickets, he has been taking important ones and hardly roams the pitch.
He can pitch in any phase of the game, so that’s a big asset.
We know Archer had one big outing against South Africa, but he is a regular bowler with the yoke-ball and bowled brilliantly in the 16th over against the West Indies, conceding just four runs.
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Dominic Cork believes Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Phil Salt can lead England to the T20 World Cup final.
South Africa, on the other hand, kept their cool.
They have won some close matches in this tournament and are playing some good cricket, going 6-0 from 6.
Against the West Indies, England had one or two bowlers who could attack but this South African bowling line-up has all played their role and been very disciplined.
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England and South Africa produced some impressive performances on the field in the Super 8 match in St Lucia.
Ottoneir Baartman bowled a full toss in the first over and missed, but Keshav Maharaj bowled beautifully with his left-arm spin, occasionally delivering a slower ball.
South Africa’s fielding was also superb and Aiden Markram’s catch to dismiss Harry Brook for 14 in the final over was perhaps the game-changing moment.
Harry Brook top-scores with 53 off 37 balls in England’s defeat to South Africa
Brook is a real talent, not just for the future but for the here and now, and he’s graceful on the off side and on the leg side.
He came into the game at a tough time, with scores of 61-4, but while other batsmen struggled, he didn’t struggle at all.
What’s next?
England They head to Barbados to take on the USA on Sunday (3:30 p.m., UK vs. Ireland). South Africa They will travel to Antigua on Monday (1.30am) to take on the West Indies.
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