England hearts sank in the first over as opener Michael Yardy was trapped plumb LBW by a slider from Johan Botha, who was bowling around the wicket to the left hander as he went for 3 off 4.
However this brought Kevin Pietersen to the crease alongside his countryman Craig Kieswetter batting against their country of birth. You always get the feeling with KP and Kieswetter in T20 that it is very hit-or-miss, and boy was it hit today.
KP and Kieswetter seemed to be attempting to find the boundary off every ball, and a large proportion of the time, they did! KP appeared confident and fearless, cutting, pulling and driving to find his 50 off 48 balls, scoring eight 4s and one 6 along the way. However, that is where the big scoring ended, as he went for 53 off 33.
Craig Kieswetter was the same, entertaining us with his usual aggression, and he scored three 4s and two 6s on his way to 41 off 42, before he was caught by Dale Steyn off JP Duminy.
I was expecting the England run rate to slow down once Paul Collingwood came to the crease, but he kept up the gung-ho mentality, smashing two massive 6s. Unfortunately, he paid the price though as the England captain faced just 9 balls before being caught by Boucher off the bowling of Morkel for 14.
Luke Wright then joined Eoin Morgan at the crease, but disappointingly went without troubling the scorers when he was bowled after a hideous swipe to a full pitched, off stump delivery courtesy of Charl Langeveldt.
Morgan however made 21 off 14 before being well caught for 21 off 14, after the shot was hit very high but caught extremely well by a diving AB de Villiers at cow corner.
Tim Bresnan added 13 before being bowled by Morkel, and Mike Yardy made 8 and Swann just 1 as they were the two batsmen who were not out at the end of the 20 overs. We had made 168-7 and after an electrifying start we had slowed down somewhat. It was set to be a thrillingly close game. Or was it?
Nope, it wasn't. It was an innings dominated by terrific bowling, and the South Africans put up little resistance. In fact, only 4 batsmen made it into double figures, and only JP Duminy made it past 19! Duminy put in a good display onboard the sinking South African ship, making 39 off 25.
Sidebottom showed why he is in the side, taking 3-23. Swann also took 3 wickets for 24 runs, with Broad's figures 2-26 and Yardy 2-31 as South Africa fell to a comprehensive 39 run defeat as they were all out for 129.
England played some top drawer cricket today and I loved seeing the aggressive attitude from the batsmen. Kevin Pietersen in particular was terrific, and there is good news too in regards to baby Pietersen. Literally as I am writing this post the news has just broken that KP will return to the UK in the next 24 hours but will be back for the semi finals. I must say, that is excellent timing by KP's wife Jess, as Kevin is simply a match, even tournament winner and it is great that we will have him back for when it matters.
Kevin Pietersen's performance sums up the performance of the whole side. We appeared aggressive and showed desire. We looked confident and focussed on the pitch and we were as good as any side tonight. Our batting was second to none, our fielding was sharp and the bowling was right on the money. If we continue like this, we can undoubtedly win this tournament.
MoM: Kevin Pietersen
Wow. What a performance in which he played aggressively but brilliantly, like the Pietersen of old, and he really drove the score forward alongside Kieswetter.
