Who said what: World reacts after England secure World T20 record run chase over South Africa
England registered the second-highest run chase in the history of T20Is as they beat South Africa by two wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. After winning the toss, England elected to bowl and after the start that the Proteas managed, Eoin Morgan must have been regretting his decision.
At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were 83/0 and thanks to fifties from Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy, they posted a mammoth 229/4 in their 20 overs. In reply, England got off to the perfect start as they got to their fifty in the third over.
Jason Roy started with a 16-ball 43 before Joe Root took over and smashed only his second T20I fifty to all but guide his side home. Although England lost two wickets off the first two balls of the last over, where they needed just 1 run to win, they got over the line with two balls to spare.
No score is unchasable: Faf
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis: “We've all played long enough to know that no score is unchasable. We said we needed to start with intensity and didn't do that. There were way to make extras from our point of view.
“Batting was superb, the first six on this wicket was the best time to bat and both sides did that. The execution of our extras, it makes it very tough because you are always under the pump.”
England captain Eoin Morgan: “Honestly, I felt we would have felt to play out of our skin to chase them. But there's a lot of talent in our team if we play with freedom. It's been going for just under a year now, we've had some big chases.
“But to get a start like that, Roy and Hales were outstanding. We'll take a lot of confidence. We came a little unstuck against Gayle, but tonight we finished well with the ball - it was just the first six overs. Batsmen are finding different ways of scoring."
Here are the reactions from the cricketing fraternity:
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was busy during the match:
Give me C ... Give me a H ... Give me a O .. Give me a K .. Give me Eeeeeeeeeeeee. .. #ENGvSA #Loveit
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2016
If Chris Morris is worth 1M Dollars at the IPL .... I dread to think what @root66 is worth ... #JustSaying
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2016
Whatever the result this has been a wonderful game ... Batting of the highest quality .... Bowling of a different standard .. !!!! #ICCWT20
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2016
Only England can arrive in India and open the bowling with 2 English style swing bowlers .... #FFS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2016
Tributes were pouring in for England's chase. Neil Fairbrother:
Sky go take a bow along with @root66 and all the @englandcricket, amazing win!!!!
— Neil Fairbrother (@Harv366) March 18, 2016
Subramaniam Badrinath:
One good run chase followed by an another extraordinary one,this #WT20 is setting some new benchmarks #WI #ENG
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) March 18, 2016
Paul Collingwood:
I think these lot are trying to give me a heart attack!! What a win @englandcricket never seen anything like it #ENGvSA #WT20
— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) March 18, 2016
Scott Styris:
In my wildest dreams I didnt think Joe root was good enough to do that. But that was unreal. The hitting in this match incredible
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) March 18, 2016
Durham all-rounder Scott Borthwick:
Wow!! What a win England...helluva run chase! Well play @root66
— Scott borthwick (@Borthwick16) March 18, 2016
VVS Laxman:
What a matchT20 cricket at its bestCongrats England on a sensational winGr8 team effort but @root66 was just awesome #WT20
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 18, 2016
Graeme Smith:
Flat pitch . top batting . Poor bowling #SAvENG
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) March 18, 2016
Simon Hughes:
Wow. Remarkable, sustaining 11.5 runs an over for a whole evening. Who'd be a bowler....
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) March 18, 2016
Mark Butcher:
Simples! #ENGvSA
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) March 18, 2016
Sussex fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad:
What a game! Rooty = different class!
— Ajmal Shahzad (@AJShahzad) March 18, 2016
Stuart Broad:
.@root66 is my main hero but @JasonRoy20 runs him close (pardon the pun) what a way to set the tone for a big run chase! So happy #WT20
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) March 18, 2016
Harbhajan Singh:
What a game End vs SA..well done @ECB_cricket for th record chase..one of those day when you don't want to be a bowler
— Harbhajan Singh (@harbhajan_singh) March 18, 2016
Isa Guha:
That was pure greatness @root66 #ENGvSA
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 18, 2016
That was the most ridiculous game I've ever watched and England end up being the winning team. Amazing!!! T20 superstars today #ICCWT20
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 18, 2016
Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara:
I'm proud to see a top class TEST BATSMAN @root66 play the most outstansing innings of the #ICCWT20 leading ENG to an impropable win. #class
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) March 18, 2016
Anil Kumble:
What a thriller that was!! @root66's knock was as entertaining as it could get! #ENGvsSA #AKLive #ICCWT20
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) March 18, 2016
James Anderson:
Wow! What a chase by @englandcricket. How good is @root66!! #WT20
— James Anderson (@jimmy9) March 18, 2016
Anjum Chopra:
What a chase this #ENG. #SA absolutely dejected after such impressive batting and scoring 229 @ICC #WT20. Great match this #ENGvSA #Mumbai
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) March 18, 2016
Steven Finn:
Yes lads! Great chase @JasonRoy20, @root66 and all the guys can be so proud of that.
— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) March 18, 2016
Glenn McGrath:
Now that's a run chase!! Well played @root66 Well played @ECB_cricket #WT20
— Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) March 18, 2016
Ravi Bopara:
What a game of cricket. Congrats England on that chase. Is T20 the best form of cricket??
— Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara) March 18, 2016
Former West Indian player Ian Bishop:
Seriously though. Bowling at Amla & Quinton in these first few overs is like bowling in the hightlights reel. South Africa vs England.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) March 18, 2016
Luke Wright got his predictions spot on:
On the positive side the wicket looks a cracker. Looking forward to watching us hopefully chase down what could be a massive total.
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) March 18, 2016
Well played lads. @root66 @JasonRoy20 unbelievable effort. Great to watch.
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) March 18, 2016
Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble:
In all this carnage @AdilRashid03 has bowled really well for England. #legspinner #AKLive #SAvsENG #ICCWT20
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) March 18, 2016
Tributes were pouring in for the Proteas batting, former Proteas opener Herschelle Gibbs:
Roles played to perfection by proteas batsmen.. should be enough
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) March 18, 2016