10.05pm An interesting take from Morgan, very similar to his lack of satisfaction in the lead-up to the 50-over World Cup. He has high standards, because he knows what this team can achieve. Let's see what awaits in Paarl on Sunday! But for now, from Miller, Alan, Venkat, and the rest of the ESPNcricinfo team, thanks for joining us, and good night!
Jonny Bairstow is man of the match "Really pleasing to start the series with some runs, everyone's happy in the camp. Change of role is something you have to enjoy, you learn to craft your innings, and if it continues, great. Different surfaces will change the order but we're very flexilble. I was happy with how I played [in the IPL], Disappointing not to finish. Newlands can be slow, but Paarl can be a cracker of a wicket. Got to adapt to those conditions. The ball into the pitch was tricky, so maintaining your weight forward [for the slower balls] was important. Tricky with some bowlers bowling 140 clicks.
"The length of our batting, with Adil and Jofra at 10 and 11, you are always in the game."
Quinton de Kock "We thought it was a good total, didn't come off tonight. I don't think it was that one over, Jonny and Ben built a partnership, Jonny batted really well, changed his gameplan to the pitch. George [Linde] has bowled really well in the nets, happy for him, a good day for him."
"Small things in the field we could have done differently, match awareness. We didn't play badly, they played really well."
Eoin Morgan "Pleasing because we were average apart from two or three guys. Chasing was difficult, especially three-down, but Jonny and Ben set it up nicely, to win when you don't play your best is nice. With the ball, we missed areas, a tad too full, and three-down early without support and partnerships...
"Collectively, regardless of the team and the time around each other, the more we play the more we will gel. Not doom and gloom, nice to start with a win, but we need to be doing the right things. We had a lot to make up."
9.58pm Chief Selector: "Dhoni style finishing by Barstow. Incredible innings and a much needed partnership with Stokes who did his crucial part. Great win by the WorldCup Champions again courtesy all round power who can bat and bowl when needed." Dhoni 2011, rather than the more recent IPL vintage, of course... time for some presentations
9.46pm High fives from the England balcony, that was a proper challenge of a run-chase, on a sticky deck that didn't encourage easy timing, and with two early wickets leaving their Powerplay tactics in a bit of strife. But Bairstow and Stokes steadied the ship, then kicked through the middle overs with ever-mounting authority. South Africa were valiant for the most part, not least the new boy George Linde. But Beuran Hendricks' short-circuit of an over cost them dear...
James : "YJB: "I don't want to bat 4, I want to open." Management: "Try it and see how you go." YJB: "I'll score 86 off 48. That'll show them." Management: "You're staying at 4."" So true, his internal monologue must be exhausting. Still, it's all's well that ends well
Moose: "Right we just need to keep slighting Bairstow until the WC. Think we've partly got SRH to thank for this one." Break up my bromance with Warner would you...? Grrr!
END OF OVER:19 | 11 Runs | ENG: 173/5 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.10, RRR: 7.00)
- Jonny Bairstow76 (46b)
- Sam Curran7 (3b)
- Kagiso Rabada4-0-32-0
- Lungi Ngidi3-0-21-2
Imtiyaz: "Brain: Don't say it... don't say it Me: ARE WE IN FOR A SUPER OVER?!" I suspect not ... but here's Ngidi ...
END OF OVER:18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 162/5 (18 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.00, RRR: 9.00)
- Jonny Bairstow72 (42b)
- Sam Curran0 (1b)
- Lungi Ngidi3-0-21-2
- Beuran Hendricks4-0-56-0
Saoirse: "Left right combinations since the 2nd ball. Have there been any matches with a full 20 overs of left/right partnerships?" Interesting. And I don't even think there was a switch in the batting to make that happen
Christo: "The only similarity tonight between Linde and Hendricks is that the runs against them was doubled in their last overs... Linde 10, Hendricks 28"
Simon: "@Stephen Nortje averages 49 in T20Is and has a strike rate of 33. Hendricks averages 20 and has a strike rate of 13" Everyone has an off-day. Even Ben Stokes, if you recall ...
Talking of which, here comes the baby-faced assassin himself. He likes to welly it
EJG Morgan c Bavuma b Ngidi 12 (10b 0x4 1x6) SR: 120.00
END OF OVER:17 | 28 Runs | ENG: 157/4 (23 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.23, RRR: 7.66)
- Jonny Bairstow69 (39b)
- Eoin Morgan11 (8b)
- Beuran Hendricks4-0-56-0
- Kagiso Rabada3-0-21-0
It's a funny old game, but hard to see how England mess it up from here
Stephen: "So Hendricks playing over Nortje... How is that good for cricket when the best players are sidelined.. South Africa and the transformation targets is not good for competitive sport. " Well, you say that. But if it ultimately increases the sport's talent footprint, the opposite will be true in the long run
This, you sense, is the Big Over ...
Bilal Ahmed: "God! This english batting line up doesn't end. One big name after another."
Dave Fern: "Went to Eden Park last night to watch NZ v West Indies. Really exciting game, right down to the wire. This match looks like it's going to end just as tensely. What a great sport!!" Not bad is it? I've missed this!
