Jason Roy’s poor form continues
Credit:
AFP
England vs South Africa, third T20 full scoreboard
Reeza Hendricks scores 70 runs, his third half-century in this T20 series
Tabraiz Shamsi takes five wickets
South Africa come back from losing first match in Bristol to win series
The wait for a white-ball series victory goes on for England’s new captain and coach, Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott.
Opting to chase South Africa down, the hosts once again came up considerably short of the target, hammered this time by 90 runs.
South Africa’s bowling attack was superb, suffocating England, with the writing on the wall after 12 overs when England were only 65 for five, although the plaudits will rightly go to 21-year-old Tristan Stubbs after a stunner of a diving catch to dismiss Moeen Ali.
The boundary at Southampton is notably bigger, meaning England’s record of 20 sixes from the first T20 was never under threat. But unable to whack the ball to all corners, England looked short of ideas.
Jason Roy’s form continues to be an issue, with 17 from 18 balls here following 20 off 22 in Cardiff and eight in the first T20, but he was far from the only player at fault as England’s batting disintegrated. Tabraiz Shamsi finished with a five-fer as South Africa completed a fairly remarkable turnaround from that first T20 defeat in Bristol.
“That little bit of timidness is probably the thing that frustrated me the most,” Buttler admitted. “[To be brave and to take risks], that’s something we want to be renowned for as a team.
“We haven’t performed how we would like with the bat the whole summer. Maybe confidence takes a bit of a dent in those situations.”
Buttler also addressed sections of the crowd booing England’s performance. “It’s the first time I’ve heard that for a very long time. That frustration shows we weren’t putting on the show we wanted to put on. That’s not for a lack of trying, obviously.”
David Willey, with all his experience, returned to replace the injured Richard Gleeson and couldn’t have wished for a better start – a wicket maiden, including Quinton de Kock dragging back onto his own stumps.
David Willey takes the early wicket of Quinton de Kock
Credit:
PA
Willey continued to pose problems and Reeza Hendricks continued to ride his luck, with two inside-edges, followed by a top-edge, all producing boundaries.
Rilee Rossouw settled quickly on his return to the Ageas Bowl, crashing a Reece Topley delivery over midwicket with the air of a player in form following his 96 not out in Cardiff.
A short shower could have disrupted South Africa’s momentum but they finished the powerplay at a rollicking rate, scoring 17 off Chris Jordan’s first over with Rossouw in command, bludgeoning the last ball of the over past everyone to leave South Africa 53 for one.
Urgently requiring a change, Buttler brought on Moeen Ali who delivered after three balls, hitting the top of off-stump with a supreme delivery to end Rossouw’s dangerous knock.
Scoring steadily despite a boundary drought between the sixth and 13th overs, Hendricks reached his third consecutive 50 in the series, still riding his luck at times but producing some quality strokes too, until a slower ball from Jordan caught him out, dismissed for 70 from 50 balls.
Reeza Hendricks produces some quality strokes
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GETTY IMAGES
David Miller, playing his 100th T20i for South Africa, emphatically cracked two cut shots to the boundary as the visitors began to purr, Aidan Markham producing an audacious reverse scoop. The big outfield here requires some heft to clear but Millar accepted the challenge, dispatching Jordan for six over long-on.
Willey deserved more reward for his efforts and dismissed Millar in the final over with a delivery that stayed straight to clip leg stump, shortly after Markram reached 50, before Liam Livingstone’s fine catch at cover meant the Proteas set England a testing target of 192.
With the sun out, England received an early gift, Roy picking up five off the back of some comical overthrows from Keshav Maharaj. Another steady start suggested this might be Buttler’s time to post a big score. Not so. After a streaky edge, the next ball from Maharaj was sent by Buttler to short third man, heaping pressure on England.
Jos Buttler scores 14 runs before being caught
Credit:
AFP
Would Roy deliver? Negative, top-edging through to De Kock to (fairly) raise questions about what happens next for England at the top of the order. More pressingly, here they finished the powerplay on 37 for two, 14 runs fewer than the Proteas managed. Perhaps of greater concern at that stage was the lack of boundaries – two to South Africa’s 10.
South Africa’s accurate and controlled bowling meant the run rate continued to climb to an unmanageable rate for England, with Stubbs’ wonder-catch out at cover, diving to dismiss Ali one-handed, the highlight of the match and hammering home South Africa’s dominance.
Then it was Shamsi’s turn, rebounding after that difficult first T20 at Bristol with a five-fer. Sam Curran’s cameo was short, hitting England’s first six before picking out Markram in the deep with the next ball. Willey swept aggressively and missed, the tightest of reviews for lbw dismissed Jordan, before Adil Rashid also picked out Markram to spark Shamsi’s ecstatic celebrations.
Jonny Bairstow has produced some miracles this summer but not today, top-edging and leaving England resoundingly beaten.
England vs South Africa, third T20, as it happened:
6:43PM
Thanks for joining us this evening
Ben Coles’ match report will follow above shortly.
6:30PM
Matthew Mott, England Head Coach, speaks with Sky Sports
This is a bit of a line in the sand moment for the team to draw from.
Generally speaking, we haven’t got off to great starts.
I don’t want to make excuses, both teams have had that congested schedule.
I think the quick turnaround certainly hasn’t helped, but we’ve got to be better than that. That performance isn’t what we want to be renowned for.
6:24PM
Jos Buttler speaks with Sky Sports:
I think that lack of consistency is something, we have to work out where that comes from.
How we haven’t managed to back-up performances all summer in all formats.
We have to work out how to go again. We can’t live in the past, it’s now about looking forward and trying to chase the best teams in the world.
We have to have an honest chat tonight about where we are. We don’t want to overreact to situations but you could sense the frustration at the ground today.
Jos Buttler speakers with head coach Matthew Mott
Credit:
Reuters
6:21PM
South Africa’s captain David Miller with Sky Sports
It’s a privilege to play 100 caps for your country and to top it off with a performance from your boys is incredible.
Our openers batted phenomenally well, they got us off to a great start. The batters throughout showed good intensity and had good intent. To level the series and finish it off today was phenomenal.
It’s difficult at a world cup with so many good teams, but the process we have take over the last 18 months has come on leaps and bounds.
6:15PM
Player of the series, Reeza Hendricks, speaks with Sky Sports
I’m very happy with my performance and I’m happy to have contributed. It was a good team performance to get the series.
Every time you step on the field you try to go out there and score runs. The competition in the squad is massive, whenever you step on the field you want to do well and stamp your mark on the team.
It wasn’t easy up front, they bowled really well. In the end, 191 was definitely a competitive score.
6:10PM
England’s player of the summer
Moeen Ali presented with the award. He speaks with Sky Sports:
It’s been decent, but obviously a disappointing summer for the team.
My role in the side is a bit to float around in the order, and when I get the nod I can go in and be aggressive.
6:06PM
Shamsi did brilliantly this afternoon
He claimed five wickets, a real turnaround after the defeat at Bristol last Wednesday.
6:04PM
England all out for 101 after 16.4 overs
The top-order collapse left the middle-order with a little too much to do. The required run rate just kept creeping upwards and boundaries were few and far between.
5:58PM
WICKET! Bairstow c Miller b Maharaj 27
Bairstow makes a boundary, just the sixth four of the evening for England, with one six. A rare cheers goes up as England make 100.
But on the following bowl, Bairstow whacks it high and it’s easily caught by Miller.
ENGLAND ALL OUT FOR 101 TO LOSE THE SERIES.
5:54PM
WICKET! Rashid c Markram b Shamsi 0
A simple catch for Markram, running in at long-on. Shamsi gets his fifth wicket!
FOW 97/9.
5:50PM
WICKET! Jordan b Shamsi 14
Almost a fourth for Shamsi! Jordan hits it over the offside, Ngidi dives for it and just misses… and it rolls for a boundary.
Shamsi smells blood though… he bowls Jordan for an LBW, which is given on review.
FOW 97/8.
5:46PM
OVER 15: ENG 91/7 (Bairstow 23 Jordan 8)
Phehlukwayo on the bowl. A video check for an LBW on Bairstow. It’s not given.
Bairstow works the ball square, Miller is there to receive.
Jordan picks up a four. It’s not a clean strike, flayed away with a thick edge and sent to the boundary.
A swing and a miss to end the over.
5:41PM
OVER 14: ENG 82/7 (Bairstow 22 Jordan 1)
A quality over for Shamsi. Two wickets and nine runs scored. It’s not looking good for England here.
5:39PM
WICKET! Willey b Shamsi 0
It’s back-to-back wickets!
Willey tries to sweep the ball across on his first ball but he’s not read it well and Shamsi rattles the ball straight into the wicket.
FOW 79/7.
5:37PM
WICKET! Curran c Markram b Shamsi 9
Shamsi bowls and it’s picked up by Sam Curran to get the six, dragging down nicely.
But he follows with an open face cut across, it doesn’t quite have the legs and Markram picks it out the sky comfortably.
FOW 79/6.
5:35PM
OVER 13: ENG 73/5 (Bairstow 20 Curran 3)
Phehlukwayo on the bowl now.
Finally a boundary. Bairstow helps it on its way to a square offside boundary, Rossouw running in completely the opposite direction.
5:32PM
OVER 12: ENG 66/5 (Bairstow 14 Curran 1)
South Africa were at 93/2 at this stage of proceedings in their innings.
They’ve strangled England here, the batsman unable to find the gaps. 52 balls and 42 minutes since England’s last boundary.
5:30PM
WICKET! Livingstone c Maharaj, b Shamsi 3
Shamsi bowling now. Livingstone pushes the ball towards the longside, but Maharaj is there to catch, a few metres out from the boundary.
FOW 65/5.
David Livingstone
Credit:
AFP
5:26PM
OVER 11: ENG 63/4 (Bairstow 14 Livingstone 2)
Another strong over for South Africa, England scoring just the four runs.
5:23PM
OVER 10: ENG 59/4 (Bairstow 8 Livingstone 0)
It’s a big ask for England now. 133 are needed from 60 balls. Livingstone comes in for Moeen Ali, who went out on the final ball of the over.
5:21PM
WICKET! Moeen Ali c Stubbs b Markram 3
Aiden Markram comes in for a bowl now.
The rate of runs needed is just about to tick past 13 for England…
A brief stoppage as Ali re-ties his shoelace.
On the next ball, he strikes legside, somewhat half-heartedly. Stubbs smells blood, runs across and dives with a terrific left-handed catch. Catch of the match so far, that was spectacular!
5:17PM
OVER 9: ENG 54/3 (Bairstow 8 Ali 1)
Excellent from Phehlukwayo. Just four singles scored in that over, and Malan’s wicket taken.
England need 138 from 66 balls.
5:15PM
WICKET! Malan c Nortje b Phehlukwayo 7
Phehlukwayo on the bowl now. Will England target him here? They did so in Cardiff.
Two singles in the first two balls, but then Malan hits a high ball on the legside, taking on the longest boundary on this ground and it is comfortably caught by Nortje.
Moeen Ali comes in for him.
FOW 52/3.
5:11PM
OVER 8: ENG 50/2 (Bairstow 6 Malan 4)
Tabraiz Shamsi is in for his first over.
England can’t get anything going here. A deep shot attempted by Malan on the final ball of the over and England limp over the 50 mark.
South Africa were 64/2 at this stage in their innings.
5:06PM
OVER 7: ENG 44/2 (Bairstow 3 Malan 4)
Maharaj on the bowl now – a good one for him. Just five scored by England and the required run rate creeps up.
5:03PM
OVER 6: ENG 39/2 (Bairstow 1 Malan 1)
Bairstow is in for Roy. And it’s a four to begin as the ball cannons past de Kock behind and to the boundary.
A free hit is signaled given the height of the fifth delivery. A single is scored to put the left-hander Malan on-strike.
An excellent over from Nortje, and a power play run rate of 6.50.
4:59PM
WICKET! Roy c de Kock b Nortje 17
Roy is out! The first ball of Nortje’s over. He tries to edge it, it tickles the top of the bat and it’s an easy catch for de Kock behind.
4:57PM
OVER 5: ENG 33/1 (Roy 17 Malan 1)
It’s been a slow start for England here, just another five of that over. South Africa were 36/1 at this same stage in their innings with just one over of the power play to go.
4:54PM
OVER 4: ENG 28/1 (Roy 14 Malan 0)
Malan replaces Buttler for the final ball of the over.
Just seven scored there, and one wicket taken. An average of seven scored off each of the opening four overs.
4:52PM
WICKET! Buttler c Ngidi b Maharaj 14
Maharaj back on the bowl now, Roy on-strike to being. A single to begin.
Buttler edges the ball behind for a four.
On the next shot, he edges it again, trying to nick it over the offside, but it’s got more air this time and Ngidi is there to catch low.
4:48PM
OVER 3: ENG 21/0 (Roy 12 Buttler 9)
Ngidi on the bowl now. Buttler slides it off down the legside to get a boundary on the first ball, an impressive start for him.
A single on the second ball to put Roy back on strike. An LBW shout against Roy on the third ball, but the umpire isn’t having it.
Ngidi tries an off cutter on the next ball, Roy sweeping it to the offside for a single to put him back on strike for the next over. Jut six scored there.
4:43PM
OVER 2: ENG 15/0 (Roy 11 Buttler 4)
Nortje on the bowl for the second over.
Maharaj gives away a five! He throws the ball at the stumps, trying to catch Roy on the run, but Miller isn’t behind to receive it and it runs away for a boundary! Ten off the over then. Singles and doubles other than that lucky boundary.
4:37PM
OVER 1: ENG 5/0 (Roy 3 Buttler 2)
Maharaj begins the bowling for South Africa.
Five singles from the opening over; a tentative start for England.
4:36PM
England are in
Jason Roy and Jos Buttler begin proceedings.
4:32PM
ENGLAND HAVE 191 TO BEAT
Five wickets there, Willey getting three: one on the first, two on the final over.
It’s a lower target than previously in this series, but neither chasers have got near this total in the previous two matches.
4:28PM
OVER 20: SA 191/5
Willey takes two wickets on the final over, but Stubbs, to his credit, comes in and manages to get two boundary fours.
So, England have a target of 192 to chase.
Livingstone catches Stubbs on the final ball of South Africa’s innings
Credit:
Getty Images Europe
4:26PM
WICKET! Stubbs c Livingston b Willey 8
Stubbs opens with a four. It sounded like he didn’t make the middle of the bat, but it’s powerfully hit and good enough on straight to beat Jordan who does his best to dive in and save it.
Stubbs gets it over fine leg on his second for a second four on the next ball.
Willey with a short ball on the fifth, forcing Stubbs to play a tennis-like shot, which comes to nothing.
Liam Livingstone is out on cover, makes up a lot of ground and takes a very good catch to finish.
FOW 191/5.
David Willey is congratulated by Moeen Ali
Credit:
AFP
4:20PM
WICKET! Miller b Willey 22
Excellent bowling from Willey, staying very straight, just clipping the leg stump.
Tristan Stubbs comes in to face the final four bowls.
FOW 183/4.
4:17PM
OVER 19: SA 181/3 (Markram 51 Miller 20)
Jordan in for the second-to-last over.
The third ball is sweetly struck by Miller for South Africa’s first six of the afternoon – a testament to the size of the field here. Miller gets great contact, holds his shape and hits it a long way straight. It’s followed by a single to put Markram back on strike.
Markram knocks down the offside to get a four in on the fifth delivery.
Firmly down the ground for Markram to finish with a double and make his half century.
4:11PM
OVER 18: SA 166/3 (Markram 44 Miller 13)
Topley bowling now. A reverse scoop from Markram followed by a square for two fours in a row, beating the square leg on the second. Very inventive from Markram here. Just what the tourists need at this crucial stage in proceedings.
A sweetly timed shot from Markram on the offside, which evades Moeen, catching a bounce. Jordan sprints towards the boundary, valliently dives, but can’t quite stop it. Another four.
And they finish with a single. A productive over, with 15 scored. 12 balls left.
Aiden Markram
Credit:
AFP
4:06PM
OVER 17: SA 151/3 (Markram 35 Miller 8)
Miller comes in for Hendricks, starting strong with a couple of fours from Jordan.
South Africa on the charge here with 18 more balls to come.
4:04PM
WICKET! Hendricks c Buttler b Jordan 70
A change of pace from Jordan, dipping and holding. Hendricks hits high and Buttler is under that, just steading himself before the dive. He’s out for 70.
FOW 142/3.
3:59PM
OVER 16: SA 141/2 (Markram 34 Hendricks 70)
Curran is back in now.
Hendricks helps the ball over to the legside, scooping it and hitting the boundary. Six or four? There will be a review. Four it is, looks like it bounces just before it hits the boundary.
Curran bowls his fourth wide.
Hendricks edges another boundary behind. Not one of his best shots, but he’ll take the runs.
Hit very firmly into the legside on the final ball, Hendricks with good control, picking the gap and finishing with a four.
3:54PM
OVER 15: SA 127/2 (Markram 33 Hendricks 58)
Topley is back in.
Does Hendricks get back for his second? There’s a review for a runout, but the replay shoes he’s easily made that. A straightforward call as Hendricks reaches his 50.
Hendricks follows with a boundary, a smash hit on the long side. 11 runs scored, 30 balls left.
3:49PM
OVER 14: SA 116/2 (Markram 31 Hendricks 49)
Rashid on the bowl. Hendricks opens with a lovely offside scoop for four.
Swept hard and square by Markram, hit with immense power and placed perfectly for a four. He’s getting into his stride now, South Africa are starting to trend in the right direction.
3:46PM
OVER 13: SA 104/2 (Markram 25 Hendricks 43)
Jordan back on the bowl now. The first boundary since the power play is scored by Markram… there have been very few dot balls in that time though.
More pace on the ball, Markram gets his weight forward moving into the shot to score on the offside, finding the gap.
South Africa make the 100 mark.
A wide by Jordan on the fifth, he’s asked to take that one again. They finish the over with a single. 11 scored.
3:42PM
OVER 12: SA 93/2 (Markram 17 Hendricks 41)
Rashid back in now.
Looped up through extra cover on the fourth, Curran pretty straight blocking off the area behind. No boundary, but could’ve been an easy catch.
Willey slides in on the final ball to stop a four. No boundaries for South Africa since the power play, so it’s going quite well for England. Although this ground is significantly bigger than those at Bristol and Cardiff which hosted the first two matches.
3:38PM
OVER 11: SA 87/2 (Markram 14 Hendricks 38)
Curran is back. He bowls short for his first three balls, longer on the fourth, short again on the fifth. Too short on the sixth, which he’s asked to take again. Short again. A tidy over, no boundaries and just seven scored.
3:34PM
13 minute delay
And we’re back under way.
3:32PM
The covers are off
The rain has stopped and the sun is back out.
The players emerge onto the field.
3:21PM
OVER 10: SA 80/2 (Markram 11 Hendricks 35)
Rashid back in now… a little bit of rain coming down.
A slight mis-field from Malan allows a second run to be scored on the fourth ball. Good batting from South Africa on the next to claim another. A single on the final.
The rain is coming down a bit harder now and it looks like we’ll have an extended drinks break… we’ll keep you updated.
3:18PM
OVER 9: SA 72/2 (Markram 5 Hendricks 33)
Sam Curran on the bowl now.
A couple of short balls, deliberately smashed into the surface. A third one sent in and Curran is asked to bowl again, a little too short there.
The fifth is sent straight out to Jason Roy.
The final ball, South Africa pick up two.
Aiden Markram
Credit:
AFP
3:13PM
OVER 8: SA 64/2 (Markram 2 Hendricks 29)
Adil Rashid comes in for next over and it’s another strong one. Just seven runs scored there for South Africa.
3:11PM
OVER 7: SA 57/2 (Markram 1 Hendricks 23)
A very good over from Moeen Ali there. A wicket and just four runs scored.
A special bowl from Moeen there, his bowl knocking off the top of the off-bail, an unplayable ball for Rossouw.
Aiden Markram comes in Rossouw for him and will have to get up to speed quickly.
3:09PM
WICKET! Rossouw b Moeen Ali 31
An absolute beauty from Moeen Ali after coming in for his first bowl!
There’s nothing Rossouw could do about that. Outstanding execution. Straightens just a touch and hits the top of the bail.
FOW 55/2
3:06PM
OVER 6: SA 53/1 (Rossouw 31 Hendricks 21)
Chris Jordan gets his first bowl. A very delicate play from Rossouw, tucking the ball behind to claim an offside boundary. A pacey ball in on the third ball, Rossouw nicks behind on the other side.
A dot ball on the next, but then Rossouw finds a gap on for another boundary on the fifth. Offside again. 17 from the final over of the power play, not a good one for Jordan there, but fairplay to Rossouw for picking all the gaps in the field there.
3:00PM
OVER 5: SA 36/1 (Rossouw 15 Hendricks 20)
The rain stop doesn’t last long and Willey wraps up his over with the tourists scoring a single.
2:55PM
RAIN STOPS PLAY
Willey back on the bowl. Well-stopped by Dawid Malan to prevent a boundary on the second – not sure he knew too much about that one though, it came cannoning into him from close range.
Top-edge from Hendricks on the fifth, taking it over Topley after a ricochet off his helmet.
35/1 after the fifth ball on the fifth over. Rain stops play, but it looks like it’ll just be a short break.
2:49PM
OVER 4: SA 28/1 (Rossouw 13 Hendricks 15)
Topley back in. Fortunate outside edge by Hendricks to tuck it behind on the leg side… but there’s enough cover there to prevent the boundary this time.
A strong drag-down on the fourth ball from Rossouw to claim a boundary four.
A single on the fifth to get Hendricks back in. Hendricks finishes with a boundary, teasing it over on the leg side. South Africa will be more satisfied with that over.
2:44PM
OVER 3: SA 17/1 (Rossouw 7 Hendricks 10)
Willey back on the bowl. He’s looking very good here.
A second boundary for Hendricks, off the thick inside-edge off a left-armer, edged behind. Very similar to his first.
2:41PM
OVER 2: SA 9/1 (Rossouw 4 Hendricks 5)
Reece Topley on the bowl now. On the second ball, Hendricks nicks the ball behind for South Africa’s first boundary.
Bairstow square on leg to pick up the fifth. Rossouw helps the ball over from the hip on the leg side to finish with a boundary on the final ball, David Livingstone dives for the boundary but isn’t able to prevent it. Nine scored in the over.
2:37PM
OVER 1: SA 0/1 (Rossouw 0 Hendricks 0)
A brilliant start for England. David Willey’s return already paying dividends.
There was a big shout for another wicket on the final ball there, for LBW, but on review the ball shaved just above the bails. No wicket given.
2:35PM
A review on ANOTHER wicket claim!
It’s being check upstairs now.
2:34PM
WICKET! De Kock b Willey for duck
It’s a key wicket for David Willey, on the third bowl of the first over. Quentin de Kock has a swing at the short and wide ball, but it comes off the inside of his bat and crashes into the wicket!
FOW 0/1
Quentin de Kock is bowled for a duck by David Willey on the first over
Credit:
AFP
2:28PM
The players emerge: teams reminder
England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
2:20PM
Two changes for South Africa
South Africa’s captain David Miller told Sky Sports:
Aiden Markram is in for Heinrich Klaasen and Anrich Nortje is in for Kagiso Rabada, who has a slight ankle injury.
Aiden gives us a sixth bowling option which helps us a lot.
2:16PM
One change for England: David Willey replaces Richard Gleeson
Jos Buttler told Sky Sports:
It is strategic – we’ve been really impressed with Richard, he’s done really well, but he’s been carrying a little bit of a shoulder injury. David has been really well too so he gets his opportunity today.
Jos Buttler before the match
Credit:
PA
2:13PM
The teams
England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
2:08PM
England win the toss
Jos Buttler wins another toss and elects to bowl first.
2:06PM
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the third and final match in the Twenty20 international series between England and South Africa, taking place at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
England won the first game of the three-match series in Bristol on Wednesday by 41 runs, but slumped to a 58-run defeat on Thursday night to allow the tourists to level the series.
Liam Livingstone wants to help England finish their white-ball summer on a high by ending his run of cameos with a “match-winning score” this afternoon.
“This summer has been a little bit up and down. I probably haven’t done as well as I would have liked but yeah, it is all about making sure when the opportunity comes for me to put in a match-winning score and win a game for England, that I am there and ready to do it,” Livingstone said.
“I feel like I have been able to affect certain games but I just haven’t got that big score to go on and win a game for the team.
“Hopefully that is tomorrow. If not, it is not as though I feel out of nick. I feel like I am playing really well but I just need a couple of things to go my way and hopefully I can get a big score in to help the team towards winning.”
Victory in Southampton would boost an England side in a transitional period as Jos Buttler looks for a maiden series victory following Eoin Morgan’s retirement from international duty last month.
Livingstone said: “We have a World Cup in three months time and ultimately everyone is working towards that and taking steps towards that.
“We want these games leading into a World Cup. It is kind of a knockout game and decider. Everyone is looking forward to it and hopefully we can finish this summer on a high.”
