Rilee Rossouw smashes South Africa to big total in second T20 at Cardiff
Rilee Rossouw finished on 96 not out as South Africa racked up 207 for three in the second Vitality T20 against England at Cardiff.
Rossouw, making just his second Proteas appearance after ending his six-year Kolpak exile, hit five sixes and 10 fours and looked certain to become just the fifth South African to reach three figures in Twenty20 cricket.
He started the final over on 93 but another expert display of death bowling from Chris Jordan, who closed out a home win 24 hours earlier in Bristol, left the 32-year-old high and dry.
Jordan allowed just four runs off the 20th over and finished with a dot ball when Rossouw needed a boundary to make his landmark.
England will still need to fire to complete a stiff chase and claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series but, having scored 234 for six at Bristol on Wednesday, they know they have the firepower.
South Africa suffered an early setback when a Jos Buttler hunch paid off, Moeen Ali thrown into the attack in just the fourth over and almost immediately persuading dangerman Quinton de Kock to pick out Jason Roy at mid-off.
But they continued to score freely, reaching 58 for one in the powerplay and 100 at the halfway point.
Reeza Hendricks made his second accomplished half-century in as many days, taking just 29 balls, while Rossouw was in fine touch. He smacked Adil Rashid out of the ground and towards the River Taff and lashed Jordan back down the ground twice in his first visit.
Jordan thought he had the number three caught behind on 37 but DRS raised doubts over Buttler’s catch and Rossouw was freed up to continue his assault.
Hendricks, who hit two sixes and three fours, was dropped by Richard Gleeson on 51 only for the pace bowler to make amends in the next over.
Inviting the pull, he had Hendricks well caught by Jonny Bairstow, who watched the ball all the way to the rope at long-leg and stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he held it to avoid careering over.
That ended a stand of 73 in 46 balls, with Jordan returning to pick up Heinrich Klaasen, whose under-powered drive hung in the air on its way to Dawid Malan.
Rossouw carried on after ramping Gleeson into his own jaw on 72 and joined Tristan Stubbs to tick the total beyond 200.
He looked to have timed his own surge to a century perfectly but Jordan stymied his efforts with an excellent concluding over.
Latest
-
News
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff would be excellent England coach – Rob Key
The former national team captain will lead Northern Superchargers in The Hundred this summer.