South Africa cruise to nine-wicket win
AFP
AFP, JOHANNESBURG: AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla blasted South Africa to victory by nine wickets after England collapsed in the second Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
De Villiers and Amla made Englands total of 171 look puny as they thrashed 125 runs in a 55-ball opening stand.
De Villiers, on the ground on which he hit the worlds fastest one-day international century against the West Indies last season, thrashed 79 off 29 balls with six fours and six sixes.
On the way he reached his fifty off 21 balls, the fastest for South Africa.
Amla was slightly more restrained but played some powerful strokes in making 69 not out off 38 balls with eight fours and three sixes.
The ease of South Africas win, which completed a 2-0 series victory, did not look a possibility while England captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler were pounding sixes in a fourth wicket stand of 96 off 55 balls.
England had reached 157 for three and seemed set for a total well in excess of 200.
But Buttler (54) and Morgan were out off successive balls and England lost their last seven wickets for 14 runs after they had looked set to post a total in excess of 200.
South African captain Faf du Plessis said he was pleased with the win but felt his team had only produced a 70 percent performance with the ball.
Unlike (the first game at) Newlands we started well with the ball, said Du Plessis.
The first three overs were excellent but then it got away from us a bit. But we pulled it back and thats important.
Du Plessis said there was room for improvement but South Africa would be confident going into the World Twenty20.
De Villiers said he was happy to be opening the batting in 20 overs cricket.
Ill have to keep performing but Ill open for as long as they want me to.
