ICC World T20 2016: England beat South Africa by 2 wickets

Updated: 19 March 2016 03:37 IST - Published: 18 March 2016 18:39 IST

Sportskeeda's live coverage for that match starts at 6:00 PM (IST). We hope to have your company for that as well!

But, if you're an Indian, or even a general supporter of the sport, your eyes should be fixed on the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where perhaps the greatest rivalry in all of cricket's history would be reignited for the second time in as many months, when India and Pakistan face off in a crucial Group B encounter.

As or England, their next game is also against Afghanistan, in Delhi on March 24.

South Africa would try and regroup from here and go on with a positive mindset into their next game, which is against Afghanistan at the Wankhede itself on March 20.

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

A giant share of the credits for this victory must go to Joe Root, who played absolutely magnificently tonight and proved that of all England batsmen, he is the one who best adapts to every format of the game.

This is also the second highest run chase in all T20I, only behind West Indies' chase of 238 against South Africa, again.

How dramatically T20 cricket has changed the mindset of the batsmen was evident tonight. England believed that they could win, right from the start of the 2nd innings, despite no one giving the any chance at the halfway stage, after SA had put up 229 on the board.

As Du Plessis admitted, less extras and wickets up front would have done the job for SA, but it was not to be today.

"I think we finished well with the bat. We will take a lot of confidence from this game," Morgan adds.

"England were very aggressive in the first 6. We wanted to get some wickets up front, but we couldn't do that. We alos gave away too many extras, and that was just a little too much," says Du Plessis.

"Honestly, at half-time, I felt that we would have to play out of our skins to chase it down, And we did just that," says Eoin Morgan.

Flat pitch . top batting . Poor bowling #SAvENG
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) March 18, 2016

There is really nothing to discuss about the bowlers as all of them took a pasting on a batting paradise at the Wankhede Stadium.

It came down to which side bowled better. And the English bowlers eked out their South African counterparts.

In the end, SA's bowling let them down. Tey bowled too many wides, too many full tosses and short balls. But in their defence, it was a pitch where you couldn't know what to bowl, and where to bowl it.

"It's always nice to contribute to winning a game of cricket. I just backed my natural instincts and built partnerships. The started given by the openers was superb, we couldn't have asked for a better one. It was a tremendous wicket. Players would love to wrap it up and take it with them everywhere," says Joe Root.

Joe Root was absolutely superb tonight. He made 83 runs off just 44 balls, and he is the player of the match.

South Africa would have thought hat they had scored enough, but it was not to be. England actually made a cakewalk of it and strolled home, it has to be said.

Wow! What a chase by @englandcricket. How good is @root66!! 🏏 #WT20
— James Anderson (@jimmy9) March 18, 2016

What a match we've had. England are still in the tournament. Heartbreak for South Africa.

19.4 Abbott to Ali, 1 run, Ali chips it over the infield for a single, and just like that, England complete the highest ever run-chase of the World T20s

What a game! No problems making 229, but problems getting that 1 run!

19.3 Abbott to Ali, no run, driven, but towards short cover again! NO run

Well, 2 more wickets and we will have a super over!

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