De Kock, bowlers keep South Africa's unbeaten run going

A blistering innings from Quinton de Kock and a feisty bowling effort helped South Africa register a thrilling seven-run win over England at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday (June 21). De Kock's explosive 38-ball 65 was the most fluent innings of the match on a pitch where most batters struggled to get going at a fast rate. South Africa then aced two crucial aspects with the ball - the powerplay and the death bowling - to eke out a brilliant win.

The difference: de Kock's assault in the powerplay

The game had many twists and turns, making for several debatable turning points but the powerplay is what arguably proved to be the biggest difference in the game. With the surface having a two-paced nature to it, the first six overs were pivotal and de Kock's assault helped South Africa rack up 63 during this period with the left-hander smashing 49 off 20 balls to give the Proteas the edge. In contrast, England in total only managed 41 in their powerplay despite losing just a single wicket. A startling difference!

SOUTH AFRICA

Powerplay: De Kock fires on all cylinders

Phase score - South Africa 63/0 [RR: 10.50, 4s/6s: 4/4]

In contrast to the previous games played here in this tournament, the surface at Gros Islet didn't appear to be straightforward for powerhitting. Reeza Hendricks struggled for impetus at his end but Quinton de Kock looked in sublime touch from the get-go and the left-hander reserved special treatment for Jofra Archer who went for 20 off his first over. There was no stopping de Kock as even the matchup move of Moeen Ali failed for England with the off-spinner getting hit for a six and four. The first over of the powerplay, bowled by Reece Topley, was the only economical part of an otherwise destructive powerplay for South Africa.

Middle overs: Rashid weaves his magic to stage England's fightback

Phase score: 52/4 [RR: 5.78, 4s/6s: 4/0)

Once the field spread, Jos Buttler got in the leg spin smarts of Adil Rashid who immediately found his bearings on the sluggish surface. A hint of turn and variable bounce meant that shot-making wasn't getting easier against the older ball. Rashid bowled out during this middle overs phase and gave away only 20 runs with the wicket of Aiden Markram in the final over of his spell. Rashid's frugal ways with the ball forced South Africa into making elementary mistakes with the bat. It was also a phase when England's fielding standards skyrocketed, led by skipper Jos Buttler who took a blinder to remove the dangerous de Kock. Buttler then was in the thick of things as he ran out Heinrich Klaasen whose promotion to attack spin didn't work for the Proteas. All this meant South Africa gave away the early platform given to them by de Kock.

Death overs: England complete the stranglejob amidst Miller's defiance

Phase score: 48/2 [RR: 9.6, 4s/6s: 4/2]

South Africa would have wanted a score of 180-plus, if not more, given the way de Kock had started. But their middle overs implosion meant that they needed an excellent finish to even get past 175. David Miller looked in good touch and with Tristan Stubbs for company, gave South Africa hopes of a blistering assault at the back end. However, England's bowlers put on a clinic in death bowling as they used the longer side of the boundary and change-ups to good effect to thwart the duo. Very few loose deliveries were offered and as a result, South Africa managed 48 off their last 30 deliveries, 13 of which came in the 16th over bowled by Wood. England's fielding continued to be spectacular during this phase with Harry Brook and Sam Curran taking blinders in the final over to further frustrate South Africa.

ENGLAND

Powerplay: South Africa put on the squeeze with the new ball

Phase score: 41/1 [RR: 6.83, 4s/6s: 3/1]

It's not often that England go at under seven runs-per-over in the powerplay, particularly after losing just a single wicket. But that's what transpired as South Africa's bowlers gave their side the perfect start to the defence of an under-par total. Philip Salt did look ominous when he dispatched a monstrous six in the first over against Marco Jansen but the opener was sent packing by a brilliant catch at short cover by Reeza Hendricks in the next over off Kagiso Rabada. Jos Buttler struggled for momentum and Jonny Bairstow also failed to get the boundaries flowing as South Africa tightened the screws in the powerplay. On a sluggish pitch, this start meant that England had a lot of work to do going forward.

Middle overs: England implode but Brook and Livingstone stay put

Phase score: 64/3 [RR: 7.11, 4s/6s: 5/1]

The pressure of being unable to force the pace eventually got to Bairstow and Buttler who both fell to the guile of Keshav Maharaj's left-arm spin. Moeen Ali, who was promoted to take on the South African spinner, was then given the predictable short ball treatment, to which he unerringly succumbed. It left Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone with a mountain to climb on a tricky surface. Both batters appeared to be unfazed by the situation at hand, working the ball around with the odd boundary before the 15th over bowled by Rabada went for 18. The premier pacer was smashed for a six by Livingstone while Brook then found two boundaries to give England a strong chance in the run chase.

Death overs: South Africa hold their nerve in roller-coaster finish

Phase score: 51/2 [RR: 10.20, 4s/6s: 6/1]

The 15th over had given the Brook-Livingstone duo the perfect momentum to launch England's assault in the slog overs. The 16th over from Anrich Nortje went for 13 including two fours by Brook while Livingstone smashed two fours and a six off the next over from Ottneil Baartman with Brook also chipping in with a boundary. All of a sudden, the equation game plummeting down to 25 needed off 18 with the game seemingly in England's grasp, even with the nature of the surface. However, Rabada bowled a superb 18th over that went for just four runs including the big wicket of Livingstone and Jansen then followed it up with an equally admirable over under pressure, also giving away just four runs. It meant that Nortje had 13 to defend in the final over, making it a grandstand finish. The pacer, though, sent a major jolt to England by taking out Brook first ball, effectively killing the game. 14 off five balls for two new batters on this pitch was never going to be easy and England eventually fell short by 7 runs.

Brief scores: South Africa 163/6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 65; Jofra Archer 3-40) beat England 156/6 in 20 overs (Harry Brook 53; Keshav Maharaj 2-25) by seven runs

What's next for the teams?

The win strengthens South Africa's chances of a semifinal berth but it is no by means assured. They'd hope to beat West Indies in their final Super 8 fixture to make sure of things. Meanwhile, England will not only have to beat USA but also need a strong win as there is a possibility of a three-way tie if West Indies beat South Africa.