Denly fails as England triumph in opening T20

Denly fails as England triumph in opening T20
First Twenty20 international, Johannesburg
England 202-6 (20 ovs) beat South Africa 127-3 (13 ovs) by one run (D/L method)

England sealed a narrow one-run win, under the Duckworth/Lewis method, in an exciting Twenty20 international at Johannesburg.

Kent opener Joe Denly (pictured) was out first ball of the match but Eoin Morgan hit a sublime 85, from just 45 balls, with five towering sixes.

It was the highest individual score by an England player in Twenty20 matches and the total of 202-6 was also an England best in T20 cricket.

Former Kent all-rounder Ryan McLaren was the pick of the South African attack with figures of 3-34 from his four overs.

In reply, Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman hit four sixes apiece as South Africa got off to an electric start. They reached 97 for no wicket inside nine overs, but rain descended at 127-3 and England were just ahead.

With seven overs left, 76 were still needed with England fractionally ahead. The players couldn’t get back out onto the Wanderers pitch so the tourists shaded victory to go one up in the series.

Picture:Getty Images