England v South Africa, 3xT20s, 21-25 June, 2017

This tripe precedes the 4 Test series.

First game today/tonight.

England won that pretty easily, it seems.

I didn't follow it. But Bairstow seems to have been the decisive factor.

I'm not sure, when SAf remained only 3 down, with AB still there - 3 early losses admittedly - how they weren't able to or didn't get much beyond 140 by the end of 20 overs.

Unless it's a ropey pitch, unusual other conditions, or your bowlers are (to quote a phrase) shit hot, that seems quite a modest total these days.

Anyway, it's only T20.

Decent win by England.

SAf compile/biff a much more competitive score this time.

Assisted by England spilling catches. Not the best way for Livingstone to start his first full-international match (yes, I know: T20).

Bit of a flunk by England. Though well persevered by SAf's bowlers.

Though not exactly a "Kerrigan" (and only T20), Liam Livingstone's debut was one to get over & forget.

1-1.

Hmm, England needed 21 from 2 and a half overs at 3-153, but lost 3-18 instead. Bit of a choke.

Well done to the SAffers on squaring up.

Welly well well. I thought England had stuffed it with their abysmal finish to their innings. At 3-166 off 17 and a half overs, they should have been looking at close to 200, but contrived to bumble their way to 8-181.

I went to bed with ABdV at the wicket, and carving into Mason Crane. It appears young Crane got his man in that same over.

Well done England on winning the series.

Now onto the real cricket.

Roy still struggling for form.

Dawid Malan was seriously impressive. Batted as if he's been playing international cricket for years in the way that Strauss and Vaughan did when they first started (although obviously in different formats). I reckon Bayliss and co would have taken note and he's probably jumped way up the pecking order for both ODI and test cricket now.

lardbucket wrote:Roy still struggling for form.

He's too hectic. Bats as if he's considering three different shots for every ball. Far too much pre- meditation as well. He's got so much talent, all he needs to do is bat normally and play each ball on it's merits, but it's like he's always trying to show off.

You think he's got problems?

If Liam L ever gets picked for England again, he'll probably stumble down the pavilion steps on his way to the crease and break his leg.

Mawan was indeed an impressive sight. Where others (just about everyone, on both sides) hewed and mowed and scooped and ladled and hacked like a World's Best Luke Wright Impression contest, he struck the ball sweet as a nut. With the timing of a Test batsman, only harder than most.

So no question who England's MVSAP was on the day.

Though to be fair, unlike T Curran (again: unlike Tom's brother) or J Roy, D Malan was actually born in the UK, as opposed to being brought up "here".

Well on the other hand I don't think all that much of Tom Curran. Seems to put in a lot of effort to barely reach 80mph. Looks a lot like a young Allan Donald, though.....it goes without saying that the comparisons end there.

South African? Right arm...?

Wow this went well. Still, I'm only commenting because this went so well, so I'm in the same boatings.