Picture Credit: Twitter
Jonny Bairstow's 90 off 53 deliveries and blitz knocks from other middle-order batters helped England to clinch 41-run victory in the first T20I against South Africa on Wednesday at County Ground, Bristol. Bairstow's inning was well supported by Moeen Ali's half-century as the hosts posted mammoth 234 runs on board in 20 overs.
Moeen Ali's recorded fastest T20I century for England off just 16 balls, shattering Liam Livingstone's 17-ball effort against Pakistan in the process. Jos Buttler's 22 off 7 balls and Dawid Malan's 43 off 23 were other two useful contribution from the host side. While, England batters continued to hammer South African bowlers, visitors too missed couple of opportunities by dropping England opener Jonny Bairstow four times in the first innings.
In response to England's 234, South Africa had a nightmarish start as the visitors were soon reduced to 7/2 in 1.6 overs. While majority of the South African batters succumbed infront of England's pace attack, young prodigy Tristan Stubbs surprised everyone with his blistering knock as he smashed 72 runs off just 28 deliveries in the second innings.
His majestic innings included 8 maximums and two boundaries as he played an unprecedented knock in his third T20 international. The 21-year-old all-rounder reached his first T20I fifty in his maiden innings in just 19 balls. Ironically, Tristan Stubbs also bowled one over in the first innings and conceded 20 runs.
Although, Tristan Stubbs' valiant effort went in vain as visitors bundled out at 193/8 in 20 overs, the middle-order batter stole the limelight and earned lot of appreciation from cricket fraternity. Former South African speedster Dale Steyn took to Twitter and posted a tweet writing, "Stubbs, Brevis Next 10 plus years the world will be entertained."
Tristan Stubbs' incredible knock not just impressed former South African pacer but many cricket fans also expressed their shock over such a amazing innings from such a young batter. Check out reactions the reactions here:
