HAMILTON: BOTTAS IS THE BIGGEST THREAT, NOT VERSTAPPEN
Morgan hails Ali & Curran as England draw level in thriller NEW SEASON STARTS IN AUSTRALIA ON MARCH 15
EOIN MORGAN saluted a “stand-out innings” from Moeen Ali and the “courage” of Tom Curran as England levelled the series with South Africa at Kingsmead.
Victory by two runs was secured by Curran, who took two wickets with the final two deliveries of the match.
But the drama had been created by a blistering 39 in 11 balls from Moeen (right) as England set a decent target of 204-7.
For all the big hits, the night boiled down to a gladiatorial contest between Curran and South Africa’s lower order.
Needing 15 off the last over, they got close but Curran thwarted them with a nerveless
LEWIS HAMILTON reckons the biggest threat to his bid to become a seven-time world champion will come from Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Young guns Charles Leclerc, of Ferrari, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, both 22, have been tipped to take the fight to Hamilton this season as he attempts to match Michael execution of slower balls. “Moeen was the stand-out performer with the bat,” said Morgan. “It was a matchwinning innings given the way South Africa played and the way things turned out in the end.
“Chris Jordan is very calm and delivers when it matters, so he’s one you really want in your side.
“But with Tom Curran, it takes courage to bowl a gamble ball like the one out of the back of the hand and a good catch by Adil Rashid. And it sets it up really well for the third game on Sunday.”
Curran’s final two balls with South Africa needing three for
Schumacher’s record haul of drivers’ championships.
But asked at the launch of the Mercedes 2020 challenge who would give him the stiffest test, Hamilton pointed in the direction of Bottas (right).
Verstappen recently described Hamilton, 35, as “very good” but “not God”, something the win and two for a Super Over were a real test. But he pinned Dwaine Pretorius lbw with the first then sent down a back-of-the-hand slower ball which Bjorn Fortuin tried to ramp, but only found Rashid.
This T20 series now hurtles towards a decider at Centurion tomorrow – and after the first two it should be another cracker.
Kingsmead witnessed 28 sixes, including three hit clean out of the ground. Moeen then Quinton de Kock, with a glorious 65, were brilliant.
Chris Jordan, with 2-31 and some ruthless death yorkers, equalled them with the ball. England’s decision to promote Jos Buttler to opener failed for the second consecutive game. Following his 15 in East London, he fell for two here.
It brought together the pair who many feel should open the innings in Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.
The Yorkshireman brought up a 50 partnership in 22 balls with the second of two huge sixes off Andile Phehlukwayo before losing his off stump for a 17-ball 35.
In reply, South Africa raced to an opening partnership of 92. David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen then added momentum until Jordan applied the brakes.
That set the stage for Curran. which raised a smile from the British racer.
“I find it funny seeing that,” said Hamilton (right). “I’m just always known to do my talking on the track. Often I tend to see that (talk) as a sign of weakness.” Mercedes have won both titles for the past six seasons, an unprecedented feat, with Hamilton (right) beaten only by now-retired team mate Nico Rosberg in 2016. But this season could be the toughest yet with the regulations essentially the same, allowing rivals a chance to close the gap.
And ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 15, he said: “Everyone’s super-focused, there’s been so much work that’s done in the background. Everyone seems refreshed, revamped and ready for the challenges ahead.” 2ND T20 INTERNATIONAL South Africa v England