Former captain Michael Atherton praised Johnny Bairstow and Sam Curran after England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series after beating South Africa.
Bairstow batted at No. 4 and scored 86 off 48 balls as England trailed South Africa 179-6 by four balls and five wickets.
The World Cup hero made his debut for England in white ball cricket but took on a new role in the middle order as Eoin Morgan’s side got off to a great start with a convincing victory over South Africa’s limited overs tour. .
“Johnny Bairstow, what a player – he likes the field,” Atherton told Sky Sports. “Four years ago, he made his first Test hundred on a very emotional day for her.
“It won’t be that way, but they will look back on this innings as there was a lot of talk before this match and before England’s run-in in the Twenty20,” he said. World Cup about his role in this T20.
“I have no doubt he should be in England’s best Twenty20 team but there were some question marks as to whether he should play and he has given a strong answer. .
“It’s easy to say that he sometimes proves people wrong, but who says he didn’t prove people right in this situation because they sent him fourth in the middle because he Said he was far better than some of the beginners against spin and he proved his mettle.
‘There were a lot of players struggling on this surface; It wasn’t easy to bat and Johnny Bairstow would have been happy with that innings.
‘It wasn’t just about the strength and power of the wounded; The clever way he breaks the edge of the foot. He catches the bowlers well; He knows who they are going to bowl on the surface, he knows the kind of slow balls that are coming.
“It has given England a winning start and when they are setting up the Twenty20 World Cup in India, it will not be any different from that situation. It is a good start for them.”
Former Proteins captain Faf du Plessis hit 58 off 40 balls to take South Africa to 179, but was one of only three players to fall in England’s all-rounder, who lost his four overs Figures 3-28 claimed.
The Surrey star, who enjoyed a stellar Indian Premier League campaign for the Chennai Super Kings, dismissed Tamba Bevuma in the first over and then Henrik Klaassen for threatening to charge.
Despite Koran’s efforts, England seemed to be on the verge of defeat as they were reduced to 34-3 in the powerplay, but Bairstow’s brilliant innings took the visitors home.
On the crane, Atherton added: ‘It was a good day for Sam. He bowled beautifully with his cutters around the wicket in the second spell.
“He got a cheap opening wicket – it was Bawuma’s bad shot – but when he came back he got the situation very quickly.
“He immediately came around the wicket, dodging the batsman, and in fact every ball was a kind of cutter, which picked up speed and made it difficult for Faf du Plessis, who put so much weight on the ball. Could not take
‘He’s a very cute and canned bowler; He knows exactly what he is doing and he has played well in the IPL and is in form. ‘
The second Twenty20 international will be played in Parall on Sunday, before the teams return to the Netherlands for the series final on Tuesday.
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