England vs South Africa report: Mighty Joe Root steers England to a thrilling, record-breaking victory at World Twenty20

South Africa 229-4 England 230-8 England win by two wickets: Root struck 83 as England bettered South Africa's 229 runs

Joe Root bats for England at the World T20 (GETTY IMAGES)

It seems that it was not all the usual bluster and misplaced optimism. Somehow, having conceded the second largest total in World Twenty20 history, England defeated South Africa in Bombay on Friday.

Apart from reviving a campaign that looked dead if not yet buried at the midway stage, it will make this bunch of smiling tyros think they can beat any opponent from any position. They chased down a formidable total of 229, by a distance the highest successful pursuit in the World T20.

As so often, in whatever format, it was Joe Root who played the most prominent role. His innings of 83 was a masterpiece of placement and timing, almost delicate in places and at odds with the brute force so often associated with T20. It took a mere 44 balls, contained six fours, four sixes and only four dots.

But Root and the rest of the middle order were indebted to a riproaring start by their openers, Jason Roy and Alex Hales. Faced with a daunting target, England simply needed a flier and got it.

Roy hit 26 off his first eight balls, and by the time Hales was out to his seventh, England had 48 runs after 15 balls. When Roy and the promoted Ben Stokes were out before the six-over powerplay was done there was a period of regrouping. Between the first ball of the sixth over and the last of the 10th – 28 balls – England went without a boundary.

But Root had the matter in hand. He pulled anything short, he essayed the ramp shot as a matter of course, drove into gaps with precision and reached his 50 with a reverse hit for six. It was spellbinding.

Upon his dismissal, England made harder work of closing out the game than it should have been, losing two wickets from the first two balls of the final over with the scores tied. But the single eventually came with a bunt over mid-off by Moeen Ali.

Root said on receiving the man-of-the-match award: “We said at the halfway stage that it was a case of not getting greedy and trying to hit 20 an over. We had to be sensible, play some smart cricket and take it really deep, back our natural instincts.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start. It meant we were ahead of the game from the off. You have a bit of breathing space. And remember, the bowlers are always under pressure in this form of the game.”

The bowling by both sides was eminently forgettable. The pitch might have been a batting paradise but England bowled too short and too wide and South Africa bowled too straight. No one, it seemed, would trust their ability enough to stick to a game plan. Only the spinners on both sides acquitted themselves with any merit and Adil Rashid, if used in the right places, could yet be instrumental in England making deep inroads in the tournament.

England’s relief at winning the toss, with dew again a factor late on in proceedings, did not last beyond the first over. Three of South Africa’s top five, including both openers, made fifties. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock put on 96 from 7.1 overs for the first wicket, and if De Kock made the early running, Amla followed. JP Duminy was barely less aggressive and their fifties came from 21, 25 and 26 balls respectively.

The large constituency of opinion suggesting that England had a vibrant, capable young team ready to capture the big prize were penning their apologies after 20 overs. What they really meant was that this was the usual bunch of no-hopers for whom flogging is probably too good and who ought to be sent home on the next banana boat. Much more of this and a gilded carriage will be called for.

In today’s other game, New Zealand made it two wins from two with victory over Australia by eight runs.