Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROY OF THE ALL OVERS
Jason’s ‘obstruction’ dismissal turns game and sinks England
JASON ROY simply got in the way of England’s attempt to wrap up their T20 series with South Africa with a game to spare last night.
Roy was dismissed for obstructing the field – one of the more obscure ways of getting out – as England went down by three runs in a nail-biter to level the series at 1-1. Flying on 67 and with the match in his hands, Roy charged down the track from the nonstriker’s end. Sent back, he ran across the pitch and got in the way of Andile Phehlukwayo’s throw at the stumps. The decision went up to third umpire Tim Robinson and he made opener Roy walk with the game in the balance. With 21 needed from the last two overs, Liam Livingstone just could not get Dane Paterson away. Eoin Morgan tried, only to hit a full toss straight to AB de Villiers at mid-on. Then decent bowling from Phehlukwayo and two comedy run outs ended England’s hopes by the narrowest of margins. The bonus for England at a packed Taunton was debutant Tom Curran, who was fired up to take 3-33 and kick off his international career in style. The Surrey pace bowler not only charged in with energy and purpose, but celebrated with the sort of passion that T20 cricket demands. Curran, 22, struck with just his second ball as Reeza Hendricks bottom-edged onto his stumps for seven before his next over disappeared for 15 runs. It was Curran’s second spell that caught the eye when he deceived Chris Morris with a slower ball and delivered a thunderbolt to york Phehlukwayo. Curran said: “My beans were going a little bit but I’m delighted with the way it’s gone. I was off on one when I got the first wicket, it was just brilliant. “With the field I set, it was either going to be yorkers or slower balls and it worked. There was a bit of pace there.” De Villiers was happy to use the pace of England’s attack to fly to 46 from 19 balls, including one extraordinary sweep over his shoulder into the River Tone.