Live Cricket Score: England vs South Africa at Chester-le-Street – 1st T20 match

By CricketCountry Staff

 

South Africa's summer in England is coming towards the end. After a wonderful Test and ODI series, it is now time for both teams to clash in the first of the three T20I at Chester-le-Street.

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Chester-le-Street: Sep 8, 2012

 

South Africa’s summer in England is coming towards the end. After a wonderful Test and ODI series, it is now time for both teams to clash in the first of the three T20I at Chester-le-Street.

 

The T20 World Cup is fast approaching and the three matches will give both teams the chance to settle upon their best teams. England are the defending champions in this format and will look for an encore in Sri Lanka. They will be without the men who made it happen two years back though, Paul Collingwood, who is no more in the England set-up and the Man of the Tournament, Kevin Pietersen.

 

Stuart Broad, the new England captain has quite a task ahead of him. There has been some positives with the emergence of Alex Hales at the top of the order and the continued growth of Eoin Morgan as a specialist finisher.

 

Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter, the pair who got England off to fast starts during the previous World Cup are back at the top. The hosts boast of a complete team having several all-round options and will quietly fancy their chances of upstaging South Africa.

 

On the other hand, AB de Villiers has led the Proteas in the shorter form of the game with aplomb. Richard Levi has been an exciting addition at the top of the order.

 

Coming on the back of scoring the fastest ever hundred in T20I cricket (117* against New Zealand in Hamilton, 2012), Levi will know that England will provide a tougher test of his skills. The rest of the order comprises of proven talents like Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, J P Duminy and Justin Ontong.

 

Johan Botha will return to the spin department, he has been released from his contract and will leave for South Australia after the conclusion of the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup. Speed merchants Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel complete a fearsome line-up.

 

Teams:

 

England: Craig Kieswetter (wk), Alex Hales, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad (c), Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach

 

South Africa: Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk & c), Jean-Paul Duminy, Justin Ontong, Faf du Plessis, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

 

Catch live score and ball-by-ball commentary of the first T20 match between England and Sputh Africa at Chester-le-Street, here

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