England women beat South Africa to clinch Twenty20 series

Edwards hit 11 fours as she reached her 10th Twenty20 international fifty

England clinched the women's Twenty20 international series, easily beating South Africa by 42 runs at Northampton to lead the three-match series 2-0.

After winning the toss, captain Charlotte Edwards batted through the England innings, making 75 not out from 61 balls in their total of 141-3.

Opener Dane van Niekerk (34) led South Africa's reply, but holed out in the deep to leave 71 needed from 46 balls.

The last seven wickets fell for 28 runs as South Africa were skittled for 99.

South Africa, who were beaten by England in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh earlier this year, lost Lizelle Lee in the second over when she was bowled by Anya Shrubsole.

Visiting skipper Mignon du Preez shone briefly, making 15 from 11 balls before picking out Natalie Sciver at deep mid-wicket as England off-spinner Danielle Hazell slowed the run rate, her four overs only costing 17 runs.

Much then depended on Van Niekerk, but with the game still in the balance in the 13th over, she hoisted a Jenny Gunn full toss over square leg where Katherine Brunt took a good diving catch, running in off the boundary.

After that, South Africa were never in contention as Gunn (3-13) claimed her 50th T20 international victim with a slower ball which bowled Sune Luus, with Chloe Tryon falling lbw next ball.

Sarah Taylor then pulled off three slick stumpings - two standing up to pace bowlers Shrubsole and Brunt - while Sunette Loubser was bowled attempting a big slog at part-time spinner Heather Knight.

With the game gone, there was time for Brunt to ask umpire Neil Mallender to have a second look at a run-out chance, when Marcia Letsoalo was originally signalled out by Mallender before Brunt indicated that she may not have broken the stumps cleanly.

Though Letsoalo was reprieved after a check with the third umpire, a mix-up in the penultimate over saw Moseline Daniels run out by a third of the pitch as England won with nine balls to spare.

Off-spinner Hazell put the squeeze on South Africa with four overs for 17 in mid-innings

"I'm delighted to win by that margin, but it didn't feel like that sort of game. We've still got areas to improve," insisted Edwards.

"I don't think we bowled as well as we have done up front, but our bowling and fielding was exceptional through the middle overs. I knew from batting through our innings that we'd have to bowl cutters, and bowl straight."

Earlier, Edwards and opening partner Lauren Winfield (22) had added 45 in seven overs before the latter was stumped.

Taylor (15), Sciver (14) and Lydia Greenway (13 not out) all helped the captain - the all-time leading scorer in this format - post an ultimately winning total.

"We thought the total was gettable, but we couldn't carry our form from the first six overs through the innings," reflected Du Preez.

"We had some very soft dismissals and kept losing wickets in clusters."

The series concludes at Edgbaston on Sunday, as the first match of a double-header before England's men take on India in a one-off T20. BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will have commentary on both games.

Taylor now shares the women's Twenty20 international record for stumpings, while Gunn passed 50 T20 international wickets