CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, Sept 8 AFP – Jacques Kallis guided South Africa to a seven-wicket win over World Twenty20 champions England at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
The Proteas were in trouble at 3-29, chasing a seemingly modest 119 for victory.
But opener Kallis, returning to international duty after being rested from the drawn one-day series between the two countries, made 48 not out of 44 balls with seven fours.
Together with left-hander JP Duminy (47 not out) he shared an unbroken stand of 90 in 91 deliveries as the Proteas, who won with an over to spare, went 1-0 up in a three-match series ahead of this month’s World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Ultimately England’s 7-118, their third lowest total in this format, did not give the bowlers enough of a score to defend.
Spin bowling, long regarded as the the Proteas’ Achilles heel, accounted for four England wickets with off-break bowler Johan Botha (two for 19) and left-armer Robin Peterson (two for 27), striking after de Villiers won the toss.
Meanwhile ever reliable fast bowler Dale Steyn took one for 13 in his maximum four overs.
At 7-85, England were in danger of posting their worst Twenty20 total before an unbroken stand of 33 in 27 balls between captain Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, who both finished on 18 not out, gave them a foothold.
No England batsman made more than opener Craig Kieswetter’s 25.
The series continues in Manchester on Monday.