English hard hitter Jonny Bairstow’s knock of 86 from 48 balls helped England secure a five-wicket victory over South Africa in the first Twenty20 international at Newland, Capetown on Friday, as per AFP report.

Bairstow was adjudged the Man of the Match for his quick-fire innings that powered England across the finish line.

Batting first South Africa posted a total of 179 from their 20 overs for the loss of six wickets. Seasoned campaigner Faf du Plessis scored 58 from 40 balls, as skipper Quinton De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen’s knocks helped the proteas to place a mammoth 180 run target batting first.

England’s run chase started on a catastrophic note as openers Jason Roy and Jos Buttler were dismissed cheaply. Following Dawid Malan’s dismissal, veteran player Bairstow and all-rounder Ben Stokes anchored the run chase, bringing the 2019 ICC World Cup winners in touching distance of the target.

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Bairstow’s 48 ball knock that comprised four mammoth sixes and nine boundaries carried England over the finish line as the three lions chased down a 180 run target with four balls to spare.

Following his side’s victory, Captain Eoin Morgan called the win, “extremely pleasing, given that we were pretty average apart from two or three players.”

The skipper praised Bairstow and Ben Stokes saying “Jonny and Ben rebuilding the way they did set up the win nicely.”

The 34-year-old southpaw highlighted the performance put together by his bowlers as the missing areas of England’s game despite all-rounder Sam Curran’s career-best three for 28.

Morgan also expressed his disappointment with England’s opening pair but was all praise for match-winner Bairstow.

Bairstow, who batted at number 4 said, “It’s something you’ve got to enjoy,” and added, “You learn to craft your innings in different ways.”

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Losing captain Quinton De Kock refused to blame bowler Beuran Hendricks for his costly 28 run 17th over and said, “I don’t think it was just the one over. It was the way Jonny and Ben played. We didn’t play badly. They played really well.”

The next T20 match between the two sides will be on Sunday in Paarl.