England swatted their way to victory over South Africa thanks to the sixiest time of their T20 lives and a clutch over from Chris Jordan.
The in-form Jonny Bairstow crashed eight of an English record 20 sixes in their innings as he collected his highest T20 score of 90 from just 53 balls in the 41-run win. And yet even the mega blasting of Bairstow was knocked into a cocked hat by the sweet timing of Moeen Ali’s fastest ever fifty for England from just 16 balls.
"I had a look at a couple of balls and then played my shots," said Moeen. "To have the fastest England T20 fifty means a lot and I can brag about it in the changing room.
"It is a nice size ground for someone like myself who is not as big a hitter as some of the other boys so I’ll give it the big one with the guys because I’m sure it will be broken soon.
21-year-old Tristan Stubbs responded in kind with 72 from 28 balls in his first international innings to give South Africa hope, but Jordan conceded just three from a brilliant 18th over to effectively close out the game.
"I was hitting it nicely so I just got on with it," said Stubbs. "The innings was pretty good, but we didn't win." The small dimensions of the Seat Unique ground in Bristol make it a batters paradise, and a dangerous crowd to sit in with the ball flying everywhere.
Together Bairstow and Moeen added 107 from just 37 brutal balls, allowing England to reach 234-6, just seven runs shy of their record total. South Africa had no choice but to swing hard from the outset, but with Quinton de Kock falling fourth ball, their chase started on the back foot.
Reeza Hendricks and Stubbs gave it a heck of a good go with twin fifties, but the target was just too stiff thanks to the four missed or dropped catches off Bairstow prompting Test skipper Ben Stokes to tweet: "Please save some (luck) Jonny lad." Spare a thought too for bowler Andile Phehlukwayo who was hit for two sixes by Bairstow before watching Hendricks spill an easy chance at long on.
The final three balls of the over to Moeen then all disappeared over the ropes and 33 had been taken from it. Despite so many fireworks from English blades, Jason Roy’s bat looked like it must have been pulled out of a bucket of water such was his damp squib of an innings.
A measly eight runs from 15 balls continued a difficult patch for the opener but former skipper Eoin Morgan reckons he can turn things around by the time they get to the World Cup in October. Morgan said: "He is a world class player and come the World Cup he will come good and Jos will want him there."
