England chased down a massive target of 230 to defeat South Africa by two wickets in the World Twenty20 on Friday in Mumbai. This is the second-highest successful run-chase in Twenty20 International history and the highest in a World Twenty20.
Coming off a battering from Chris Gayle in their last match, England opted to field after winning the toss and started disastrously. South Africa's opening pair of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock got off to a flyer, racing to 50 in just four overs and then 96 in seven. Amla (58 off 31 balls) and de Kock (52 off 24) were dismissed soon after, but JP Duminy (54 not out off 28) finished the innings in fine style, as South Africa ended on 229/4.
But England showed they were up for the chase, smashing 21 and 23 off the first two overs. South Africa soon struck back though and England's chase looked like it had stuttered at 118/4 in 10 overs. But England's best batsman Joe Root played a nerveless classy knock, stitching together a key partnership with Jos Buttler at the other end to take his team to the brink. Root got out with eleven runs to go, finishing on 83 off just 44 balls.
England needed only a run to win in their last over but lost two wickets in the first two balls. Thankfully, Moeen Ali hit one down the ground to secure an incredible victory for England who stay alive in the tournament.
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