Live Cricket Score - South Africa vs England, 1st T20I, Cape Town

Bairstow-Curran show

Bairstow provided the finishing touches by tonking Ngidi for a four and six. Hard-fought victory for the formidable England side. Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock and co. would be wondering about that one over from Hendricks. Du Plessis dropping Bairstow also didn't help their cause.

Curran's magic

Ngidi dismissed Morgan but in the penultimate over, Sam Curran clubbed a six off a slower ball from Rabada. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. He keeps delivering under pressure. Seven needed off six balls now.

The turning point?

Is that the over?? Hendricks has just given away 28 runs in a single over!! The target is now down to just 23 in 3. It included eight extras (wides) with Bairstow and Morgan clubbing a few sixes and boundaries. South Africa look down and need a spark.

Huge scalp

Oh, Shamsi is very excited. He yells 'c'mmonnnn' after sending Stokes back to the hut. It was a half-tracker and asking to be smacked but Stokes clubbed it straight to the man stationed at midwicket. Crucial wicket in the context of the game.

Experience coming to the fore

Bairstow and Stokes. Experience coming into play. The pair has propped up the innings with a breezy stand. Bairstow launched a couple of sixes off Shamsi while Stokes landed a meaty blow of Linde. To make matters for the visitors, du Plessis fluffed a chance at long on to give Bairstow a reprieve. It could prove to be costly.

Dream debut

More trouble for the visitors. Malan, world's number one ranked T20I batsman, also fell to Linde, sweeping one to square leg. Linde has figures of 2 for 2 in two overs. Dream debut

One brings two and three...

One brings two they say. And England have lost their second wicket with the dangerman Buttler slicing Ngidi to covers. Huge wicket for the home side. England need a partnership of substance.

Linde on the mark

Not a good start for the tourists. There was width on offer but Roy could only cut it to the 'keeper. Roy's poor form continues while Linde has a wicket in his first over in T20Is!

England need 180

Eventually, the hosts finished with 179 for 6 in their allotted overs. Rassie van der Dussen and Klaasen played decent hands down the order. Earlier, Du Plessis and de Kock set the platform with a 77-run partnership.

Meanwhile, Sam Curran spearheaded England's attack with three wickets. He wasn't afraid to bowl the short ball. Can the tourists chase down the target?

The Curran show

Sam Curran does have the knack of picking up wickets with the short ball. The left-armer extracted a bit of bounce on his short ball and Klaasen could only top-edge it to the 'keeper. Three wickets for the all-rounder!

Another wicket

Having scored at less than a run-a-ball for his first 11 deliveries, van der Dussen finally gets going with a six off Rashid, slog-sweeping one over the fence. The legspinner finishes with figures of 0 for 27 from his four overs.

Sam Curran then bags the important wicket of du Plessis as the experienced batsman, looking to execute a hook, gets a top edge to Jordan who makes no mistake. Du Plessis departs for 58, leaving South Africa at 109 for 3 in the 14th over.

And the breakthrough

The experienced duo continued to pummel England with de Kock cracking a couple of boundaries off Jordan. However, against the run of play, de Kock carved Jordan to point where the England skipper grabbed it with both hands.

The visitors would have a sigh of relief as the pair looked set to power South Africa to a massive total.

Meanwhile, du Plessis completed his ninth T20I fifty. Explosive innings.