BBC Online :
England responded to their Champions Trophy disappointment with a nine-wicket win against South Africa in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals on Wednesday.
England were excellent with the ball in Southampton, restricting the Proteas to 142-3 despite a stand of 110 between AB de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien.
Jonny Bairstow made 60 not out off 35 balls and Alex Hales an unbeaten 47 to complete the chase with 5.3 overs left.
On choosing to bat, South Africa captain De Villiers predicted that the Southampton surface could be on the slow side, but the Proteas’ struggle to score was down to the skill of the home attack.
David Willey bowled JJ Smuts with the first ball of the match and the pacy Mark Wood accounted for both Reeza Hendricks and David Miller to leave the visitors 32-3.
Behardien joined De Villiers one delivery into the fifth over and, although they remained together for the rest of the innings, they struggled to accelerate to a total that would test England.
Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane, making his international debut, was impressive in the middle overs, squeezing with county colleague and slow left-armer Liam Dawson. Between them they conceded 41 runs from eight overs.
England responded to their Champions Trophy disappointment with a nine-wicket win against South Africa in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals on Wednesday.
England were excellent with the ball in Southampton, restricting the Proteas to 142-3 despite a stand of 110 between AB de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien.
Jonny Bairstow made 60 not out off 35 balls and Alex Hales an unbeaten 47 to complete the chase with 5.3 overs left.
On choosing to bat, South Africa captain De Villiers predicted that the Southampton surface could be on the slow side, but the Proteas’ struggle to score was down to the skill of the home attack.
David Willey bowled JJ Smuts with the first ball of the match and the pacy Mark Wood accounted for both Reeza Hendricks and David Miller to leave the visitors 32-3.
Behardien joined De Villiers one delivery into the fifth over and, although they remained together for the rest of the innings, they struggled to accelerate to a total that would test England.
Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane, making his international debut, was impressive in the middle overs, squeezing with county colleague and slow left-armer Liam Dawson. Between them they conceded 41 runs from eight overs.
