After their narrow loss to South Africa, England captain Jos Buttler admitted that his batters couldn’t match the big-hitting prowess of Proteas keeper-batter Quinton de Kock. England lost to South Africa by seven-run loss in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday. De Kock slammed a 38-ball 65-run knock studded with four sixes and as many fours to power South Africa to 163 for six in 20 overs. In reply, England were restricted to 156/6, despite Harry Brooks’s 37-ball 53.

However, a huge controversy erupted when de Kock was controversially given not out by the third umpire.

The incident happened on the second ball of the ninth over after Mark Wood took, what it seemed like a regulation catch, at deep backward square leg.

De Kock pulled Adil Rashid‘s delivery but could only find Wood, who seemed to have taken a clean catch. De Kock, however, wasn’t convinced as he asked the on-field umpire to take the third umpire’s help.

The third umpire went through multiple replays before concluding that the ball had touched the ground, declaring de Kock as not out.

Watch the controversial moment here:

De Kock given not out! Whats your opinion? pic.twitter.com/cCzxsD50HY

— GoalsAndWickets (@GoalsnWickets) June 21, 2024

Speaking on the loss, Buttler said that de Kock’s innings was the “difference” between the two teams.

Quinton de kock thought it was the clean catch but third umpire gave not out #ENGvsSA pic.twitter.com/TAZOuKHq0g

— Lavesh Jain (@lavesh_jain10) June 21, 2024

Was Quinton De Kock Out or Not out ? pic.twitter.com/pBWxQazeSh

— Extra Cover (@_extracover_) June 21, 2024

Quinton de Kock Out or Not out…..!!#T20WorldCup #SAvsENG pic.twitter.com/EzeKyXygXn

— Cric Choice (@CricChoice) June 21, 2024

“I think the way Quinny played at the top sort of really put us under a lot of pressure and (he) played some great shots and we weren’t able to match that,” Buttler said during the post-match press conference.

“I think that was the difference in the game.”

“The tougher overs in the power play today were from the bottom end which de Kock really took on and took some risks and played well, so as I’ve mentioned, I felt like the power play was the difference in the game,” he said.

“I think the way Quinny could bat at the rate that none of us could bat at for — but like I say, yeah, we fought back brilliantly well with the ball and restricted a really strong line-up to what was about a par score probably.”

(With ANI Inputs)

England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Updates© AFP

ENG vs NAM T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Updates© X (formerly Twitter)

Tearaway pacer Mark Wood believes England have to make do with whatever games they have in hand in their preparation period for their Men’s T20 World Cup title defence, especially with them not playing any official warm-up games organised by the ICC. England’s two games against Pakistan at Headingley and Cardiff have been abandoned without a ball being bowled, while the other game saw them emerge victorious by 23 runs. They have the last game of their series against Pakistan at The Oval on Thursday, which has a rain threat.

“Obviously, it’s not ideal when you schedule four games and we might only get one or two. A few of the lads are keen to get a run out at the Oval, so that will help. It will give confidence to everyone in the group.”

“It was a good game the other day against Pakistan. They looked like they were pushing us really close and might have got there in the end if it wasn’t for such good bowling and shutting the game out from (Reece) Topley, (Chris) Jordan and (Jofra) Archer,” Wood was quoted as saying by Sky Sports Cricket.

Post the end of the series, England will fly to Barbados for their T20 World Cup campaign opener against Group B opponents Scotland on June 4.

“Yes, we have got experience, but warm-up games always give you a sense of different things you can tinker with. Who is in good form? Who needs to work on other things? Some lads have been playing at the IPL and they are match ready.”

“Other lads haven’t, and the lads that haven’t, is there a freshness? You want the games to practise stuff, but it is a fine balance. One or two of us might feel like we need a game or two to get going, but there will be no excuses. It is coming around thick and fast. Whatever preparation we get, that is what we are going to have to go with,” added Wood.

Returning fast-bowler Jofra Archer claimed two wickets at Edgbaston on his first international return for 14 months. “The mark of Jofra is that he is always in the game, always at people. There is always a chance of wickets and him changing the game.”

“He bowled that difficult over — that sixth over is a tough one, it is the last over of the Powerplay where the batters are looking to score heavy, and I am sure he would have been nervous.”

“He is a pretty cool guy, and as soon as he got that over out of the way he would have settled into the game. To bowl those next three overs for next to nothing shows a great deal of resilience, which is something he has had to show over the past few years,” elaborated Wood.

He signed off by saying he was unaware about the idea of him partnering with Archer for the new-ball duties at the T20 World Cup. “I honestly have no idea. That’s a question for the management. But I have played with Jofra before, and I don’t see it like me or him. I don’t see why we can’t play together.”

“We played together at the 2019 World Cup and things went pretty well. I don’t see why we can’t play in the same team, but maybe it is up to the management to manage our bodies and see how we get through the tournament.”