Cardiff, September 11 (HS): South Africa drew first blood in the three-match T20I series with a 14-run win (DLS method) over England in a rain-curtailed opener at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday night. The match, delayed by nearly two hours, was reduced to a frantic nine-over contest that produced fireworks, drama, and a clinical finish from the Proteas.

England, opting to bowl first after winning the toss, struck immediately as Luke Wood dismissed Ryan Rickelton off the first ball for a golden duck. Wood then removed Lhuan-dré Pretorius in his next over, putting the hosts on top early. But South Africa roared back through captain Aiden Markram’s blistering 28 off 14 balls, supported by sensational hitting from Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira.

Markram was reprieved on 24 but soon fell to Adil Rashid, yet Brevis turned the momentum with three consecutive sixes, while Ferreira smashed two of his own to push South Africa to 97/5 in 7.5 overs before rain intervened again.

After a 50-minute delay, England were set a DLS-adjusted target of 69 in 5 overs. But the chase started disastrously when Kagiso Rabada removed Phil Salt first ball. Skipper Jos Buttler played a few sparkling strokes for 25, but his dismissal derailed the chase. Harry Brook fell for a duck and Jacob Bethell also departed cheaply as pressure mounted.

With 26 needed off the final over, Corbin Bosch bowled Tom Banton to seal the result, leaving England stranded at 54/5 in 5 overs.

Brief Scores

South Africa: 97/5 in 7.5 overs (Aiden Markram 28, Donovan Ferreira 25*; Luke Wood 2/22, Adil Rashid 1/24)

England: 54/5 in 5 overs (Jos Buttler 25, Sam Curran 10*; Marco Jansen 2/18, Corbin Bosch 2/20)

Result: South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS Method), lead 3-match series 1-0.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar