LUNGI NGIDI bowled a match-winning death spell of 3/10 in two overs to earn the Standard Bank Proteas a one-run victory over England in the opening KFC T20 International at Buffalo Park, East London, on Wednesday evening.
England had looked home and dry when they went into the last six overs needing 50 off 36 balls with 8 wickets in hand but they crumbled badly in the closing overs as Man of the Match Ngidi finished with 3/30, which included the responsibility of having to defend five runs in the final over to prevent a super over and he did exactly that.
Beuran Hendricks who bowled exclusively at the death also played his part with 2/33 in 3 overs while there were also two wickets for Andile Phehlukwayo.
Earlier, the Proteas posted 177/8 in their 20 overs after Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma put on 48 for the first wicket off only 26 balls and then Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen a further 63 for the second wicket in 40 balls.
The start of the England innings followed much the same pattern with Jason Roy smashing the top score of the match of 70 off 38 balls (7 fours and 3 sixes).
Eoin Morgan consolidated for England with the second half-century of the match (52 off 34 balls, 7 fours and a six) but it was his dismissal by Hendricks, preceded by Ngidi's dismissal of Ben Stokes that finally swung the game South Africa's way.
It was the third time South Africa have won a match by one run.
The 2nd T20 International in the three match series takes place at Kingsmead in Durban at 6pm on Friday.
