Archer and Jordan help England secure South Africa series win with one match to spare

Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan helped England secure a IT20 series win against South Africa over the weekend with one match to spare.

The Sussex duo were among the wickets on Friday evening in Cape Town on Friday evening and in Paarl on Sunday afternoon as Eoin Morgan’s men began their white-ball tour with successive victories.

After England won the toss at Newlands on Friday and opted to bowl first, Sam Curran dismissed South Africa opener Temba Bavuma in the first over, but the hosts soon recovered thanks to a second-wicket stand of 77 between Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock.

Both batsman were looking settled at the crease, with du Plessis taking a particular liking to Tom Curran and hitting 24 off his second over, but Jordan made a vital breakthrough to dismiss de Kock.

The South Africa captain was safely caught by Morgan at extra cover for 30 off 22 balls to give CJ his sole wicket of the match. He finished with figures of 1-40 from his four overs, and also took the catch to send du Plessis on his way for 58 and give Sam Curran his second wicket.

de Kock’s out! 👋

Eoin Morgan takes the catch to give @CJordan his first wicket of the match. BIG breakthrough! 🔥pic.twitter.com/BEal5ZIixI

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) November 27, 2020

Curran eventually finished with career-best IT20 figures of 3-28 when he removed Heinrich Klaasen in the 17th over, and in the 19th, Archer had Rassie van der Dussen caught on the boundary for 37.

Archer finished with figures of 1-28 from his four overs, and the hosts eventually set England 180 to win.

England suffered a slow start when Jason Roy and Jos Buttler were out within five overs, but Jonny Bairstow produced a fantastic display with the bat to finish not out on 86 and secure his side a five-wicket win.

Both sides travelled to Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday for the second IT20, and an unchanged England XI again opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

It was a lightning fast start in the early afternoon sun for the Sussex boys, with Archer bowling Bavuma with a beauty to send the home batsman on his way for 13.

Lightning fast start ⚡️@JofraArcher bowls Bavuma to give England their first wicket of the day! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YUP4Pq583l

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) November 29, 2020

Jordan then got in on the act to have de Kock well caught by Tom Curran for 30 off 18 balls, and leave South Africa 48-2 after the powerplay.

The dismissal of de Kock saw Jordan draw level with Stuart Broad as England’s leading wicket-taker in IT20 cricket with 65 wickets, and he finished the match with figures of 1-29. Archer ended with 1-18 from his four overs.

Adil Rashid also impressed with the ball in Paarl as South Africa struggled to score quickly on a slow pitch. The spinner ended with figures of 2-23 as the home side set their visitors 147 to win.

Roy and Buttler were again out early, but Dawid Malan steadied the ship with a half-century while Morgan used all his experience to finished unbeaten on 26.

It was Jordan however who hit the winning runs, finishing not out on three to seal a four-wicket win and a series victory heading into the final match of the series on Tuesday back in Cape Town.