Published: Feb 20, 2016, 02:40 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 20, 2016, 09:08 AM (IST)
South Africa’s Imran Tahir finished with career-best figures of 4 for 21 in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against England at Cape Town. Tahir picked his first wicket of Alex Hales who was looking set for 27 runs. Tahir in fact was on a hat-trick, when he got rid of Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali off consecutive deliveries, only to be denied off it by Chris Jordan. With this he equaled his own held record of 4 for 21 against Netherlands at Chittagong, which was the best bowling spell by an South African in T20Is. His four-for helped South Africa beat Netherlands by 6 runs, a low scoring affair. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs England 2015-16, 1st T20I at Cape Town
Coming No. 3 in the list is is former skipper Johan Botha, who picked 3 for 16 against India way back in 2009, he also has the least economy rate of the top 5. Coming in just behind him is Eddie Leie who picked 3 for 16 Bangladesh last year, he has played only two T20Is for South Africa. Next in the list is Jean Paul Duminy, who picked 3 for 18 against Sri Lanka in August 2013.
Best figures for South Africa in T20Is:
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ | Opposition | Ground |
| Imran Tahir | 4 | 21 | 4 | 5.25 | v Netherlands | Chittagong |
| Imran Tahir | 4 | 21 | 4 | 5.25 | v England | Cape Town |
| Johan Botha | 4 | 16 | 3 | 4 | v India | Nottingham |
| Eddie Leie | 3 | 16 | 3 | 5.33 | v Bangladesh | Dhaka |
| JP Duminy | 4 | 18 | 3 | 4.5 | v Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) |
It was all-rounder Chris Morris heroics that accounted for a victory for South Africa, taking the hosts gained a three-wicket win over England off the last ball of the first T20I.
