Player of the Match
Player of the Match

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."

17.4
1
Sipamla to Malan, 1 run, good delivery, and dabbed into the covers, for the single! Malan thought he had more runs to play with! That may atone, in Eoin Morgan's mind, for the non-run bye in New Zealand last year. He finishes on 99 not out, but more importantly England win by a canter to seal a 3-0 series win!
17.3
4
Sipamla to Malan, FOUR, inside out, over extra cover, scores are level as Malan reaches 98! Eased into the gap, South Africa have been flogged here
17.3
1w
Sipamla to Malan, 1 wide, a wild wide, barely hits the cut strip. That won't help Malan's cause!
17.2
6
Sipamla to Malan, SIX, that'll help! In the slot, and utterly pelted over long-on once more! Sipamla's lengths have been too predictable, too full, and too easy to butcher!
17.1
1
Sipamla to Buttler, 1 run, back of a length, tapped down to the leg side to hand the strike back to Malan. A century would be the fitting finale here...

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 ...

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | ENG: 179/1 (13 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.52, RRR: 4.33)

  • Jos Buttler66 (45b)
  • Dawid Malan88 (44b)
  • Anrich Nortje4-0-37-1
  • Lungi Ngidi3-0-23-0
16.6
1
Nortje to Buttler, 1 run, right up to the toes, punched from under the eyeline back past the bowler
16.5
0
Nortje to Buttler, no run, slapped into the covers, this time he can't beat the field
16.4
4
Nortje to Buttler, FOUR, crushed through point with such power! Dismissive from Buttler, Nortje offers too much width to go with his extreme pace, and the net effect is bread and butter for Buttler

Abdullah Babar: "Nortje vs Buttler-the IPL rivalry part II"

16.3
1
Nortje to Malan, 1 run, open face, pressed to cover
16.2
4
Nortje to Malan, FOUR, well, even when Malan's beaten, he's nailing it! Swings into a cramped pull, beaten for pace, but the spiralling top-edge from the 95mph Nortje swirls to the very edge of the rope at fine leg!

Saoirse: "Despite Buttler playing 55 more games than Malan, and being one of England's best T20 players, Malan already has 3 scores bigger than Buttler's T20I top score (77*)"

16.1
1
Nortje to Buttler, 1 run, wafted out to the cover sweeper, searching for the yorker and can't quite find the length

END OF OVER:
16 | 3 Runs | ENG: 168/1 (24 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.50, RRR: 6.00)

  • Dawid Malan83 (42b)
  • Jos Buttler60 (41b)
  • Lungi Ngidi3-0-23-0
  • Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-57-0

Srinath: "Malan quietly consolidating his position at the top of the T20I rankings. I am sure no one could have guessed he was the top ranked T20I batsman, but he is showing that he truly is deserving of the ranking." Not much quiet about this innings, to be fair, but yes ...

15.6
0
Ngidi to Malan, no run, gets out of the over well, serving up the wide yorker that Malan can't lay bat on. It's all over bar the shouting, surely, but another over like that might just take it deep