Faf du Plessis admits South Africa could have lost the 1st T20I against England

Faf du Plessis admits South Africa could have lost the 1st T20I against England

Johannesburg: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has admitted that his side could have lost the opening T20 International (T20I) of the two-match series against England at Newlands, Cape Town on Friday. Chasing modest target of 135, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular junctures and needed 15 runs from the final over and two off the last delivery to secure the win. Chris Morris then produced another brilliant performance as he scored a brisk 17 not out off mere seven balls to complete an emphatic run chase. Du Plessis said that successful teams get over the line even though at times they shouldn’t and insisted that such results would build confidence ahead of next month’s ICC World T20 2016 in India, Sport24 reported. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 1st T20I at Cape Town

While praising Morris, who played a match-winning knock in the fourth ODI against England, the captain said that England should have won the game. The second and final match of the series will take place in Johannesburg on Sunday. Morris smacked 14 runs in the final over as Reece Topley messed up. Topley in the very final ball could not collect the ball and missed out on running out Kyle Abbott, with the hosts needing just 2 to win. Morris innings of 17 runs came off just 7 balls, included one four and one six. READ: Chris Morris final over heroics help South Africa defeat England by 3 wickets in 1st T20I

Imran Tahir finished with career-best figures of 4 for 21 to restrict England to 134 for 8 as South Africa decided to bowl first winning the toss. England mnagaed to win the Test series 2-1, but narrowly lost the ODI series. England will look to level the series at Johannesburg.