England thrash South Africa by nine wickets in 1st T20

It’s the T20 rubber‚ which kicks off in Southampton before moving to Taunton on Friday and ending in Cardiff on Sunday. Jonny Bairstow will also be released to his Yorkshire duties after the first two T20Is.

And, with Hales and Bairstow motoring along, the hosts were cruising on 97 for one after ten overs.

England won the match with a massive 33 balls to spare as a confused South Africa looked helpless in the field.

“The new season will be starting and I have to see how I fit in and move forward from there”, de Villiers said.

“Jonny Bairstow is a great example of that and has always scored runs every time he has come in”. Dane Patterson, who picked seven wickets for South Africa A against Hampshire will also be a player to watch out for.

“They managed to tie down one of the best players of our generation (de Villiers) and a very good worldwide cricketer (Behardien)”.

First ball of the next over, a Wood bumper was too sharp for Reeza Hendricks and he pulled the ball to Willey at mid-wicket who leapt high to take the catch.

David Miller then followed at the start of the fifth over, edging Wood behind as South Africa slipped to 32-3.

After managing just 51 runs in eight one-day worldwide innings so far this season, Roy made 92 for Surrey in their One-Day Cup semi-final win over Worcestershire last week.

“It is easier to say that, within the series, everyone is going to get a game”, he said when asked how numerous new players could play.

After electing to bat first, AB de Villiers’ charge stumbled to a mediocre score of 142-3 with the captain struggling to find his touch with 65 from 58 balls.

Hales favoured the leg side, whacking two sixes off Imran Tahir, who received some brutal treatment to concede 37 from three overs, while Bairstow crashed the ball through the off side and hit two sixes down the ground.

“We know he has the potential and skill level, he has proved that at county level”, said England captain Eoin Morgan of the 20-year-old Crane.

“It is easier to say that, within the series, everyone is going to get a game”, he said when asked how numerous new players could play. “We learnt a lot of things”.

AB de Villiers, one of the most feared batsmen in the world, and Farhaan Behardien both registered unbeaten half-centuries but neither was able to get away following a collective effort from England’s seamers and spinners. “(Jason) Roy smokes for a few overs and it takes the game away”.

After scoring 92 last Saturday to help Surrey reach the domestic 50-over final, Roy hit an early six off Smuts’ left-arm spin and then took Wayne Parnell for 18 off four deliveries – including a straight six and a perfectly-timed flick through mid wicket for four. I think we did okay to get it back, it was really hard to get it away.

Crane was tricky on his debut, only bowling one poor delivery from his last ball – a full-toss which De Villiers sent to the boundary.