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Jonny Bairstow seals England rout of SA

England, set just 143 to win, reached their target for the loss of only one wicket with 33 balls left.

Southampton: Jonny Bairstow made a dashing 60 not out as England thrashed South Africa by nine wickets in the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Wednesday.

England, set just 143 to win, reached their target for the loss of only one wicket with 33 balls left.

Opener Alex Hales was 47 not out, his unbroken second- wicket stand with Bairstow worth 98 runs. But the foundations for a victory which put England 1-0 up in this three-match series were laid by their bowlers.

They restricted South Africa to 142 for 3 after Proteas skipper AB de Villiers won the toss.

De Villiers made 65 not out and Farhaan Behardien an unbeaten 64 in an innings where fast bowler Mark Wood took two for 36. The fourth-wicket pair’s unbroken partnership was worth 110 runs after they came together with South Africa 32 for three — which represented a recovery after they had slumped to seven for two.

Brief scores: South Africa 142/3 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 65*, F. Behardien 64*) lost to England 143/1 in 14.3 overs (A. Hales 47*, J. Bairstow 60*).

( Source : AFP )
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