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MUMBAI. — Joe Root produced a batting master-class as he engineered the second-largest successful chase in the history of T20 internationals to power England to 230 for eight to complete an extraordinary two-wicket win against South Africa at the ICC World Twenty20 at the Wankhede yesterday.

England won the toss and inserted South Africa, who blasted 229 for four, thanks to half-centuries by Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy.

Amla and De Kock struck 83 in the power play.

Both struck seven fours and three sixes in their 58 and 52 respectively. Duminy and David Miller ensured that South Africa finish in rampant fashion, slamming 64 runs in the final five overs.

When De Kock perished off the first delivery of the eight over, he and Amla had added 96 for the first wicket.

Duminy and Miller combined expertly at the business end to power South Africa from 166 for three to 229 for four.

But Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Josh Butler and especially Root humbled the South African attack as England reached 230 for eight with two balls to spare.

It was the second highest run-chase in the history of T20-Internationals, eclipsed only by the West Indies at the Bidvest Wanderers in 2015.

England’s win leave South Africa with a mountain to climb in Group One, as the Proteas might have to win all three of their remaining games in the group-phase to reach the semi-finals.

Roy benefited from South Africa’s tendency to bowl too straight at the infancy stages and his whirlwind of 43 off 16 balls had England off to a rollicking start, powering them to 48 after 2.3 overs.

Kyle Abbott (3-41) temporarily stemmed the tide by trapping Roy in front after he and Hales had struck 44 runs in the first two overs.

Root produced a phenomenal innings full of ingenious shot. His 44-ball 83 includes six fours and four sixes.

South Africa needed some control and wickets in the middle-period to restrict England, but apart from the leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who took 1-28, all the other bowlers suffered a terrible pounding at the hands of England.

Dale Steyn bowled too straight in his first over and conceded 23 runs. He finished with 0-35 in two overs.

Chris Morris also bowled too straight and when he got it right, he was deposited for some boundaries through audacious shot-making from Root. His three overs cost 39 runs.

Kagiso Rabada, who bowled with improved control in the second half of the power play, also strayed and finished with a below-par 2-50 in four overs.

“We have played the game long enough that any scored can be chased down. The execution of our extras was a big factor. We went for 26 extras, which is way too much,” said Faf du Plessis, the South African captain.

South Africa might have felt they were in with a sniff when England had 89 for three after six overs.

England went for 27 deliveries without scoring a boundary as the South African spinners pressed in the middle-period.

But Du Plessis’ gamble to use Duminy for a third over failed, while Root treated Morris with disdain when he was introduced as sixth bowler in the second half of the England-innings.

England gained acceleration and Root dominated a 75-run partnership with Butler to get England to within the brink of a win.

When Root was dismissed in the penultimate over, caught at midwicket by Miller of Rabada, England needed 11 runs off 10 balls and they cruised to 230 for eight with two balls to spare. — SuperSport.