Summary

  • South Africa win off last ball

  • Jordan takes three wickets

  • Spinner Tahir 4-21 in England's 134-8

  • Buttler top-scored with 32 not out

  • SA won women's T20 by 17 runs

  1. Eng 36-0published at 3 overs

    Jason RoyImage source, AP

    Still plenty of empty seats in what is reportedly a sold-out stadium. Blame the rush-hour traffic. Those that aren't here yet are missing some big-hitting from England. Roy gets in on the action with a club to send an Abbott ball over cow corner for six before pulling a four to a similar area. The England openers are putting the power into the powerplay.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    #bbccricket

    bROCKerz: I'm still unsure on Jordan - he might be wayward, but I still remember his excellent super over v Pakistan! Amazing.

    Ben Morgan: England have apparently selected their best XI?? With Chris Jordan in it?? What has he done?? Good fielder but about it.

    Tim Williams: Why is Chris Jordan playing today? He is no use to us in next month's World Cup, so playing him now is truly pointless.

  3. Postpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Alex HalesImage source, Getty Images

    "I would almost be frightened if I was the non-striker given how well Hales is hitting the ball."

  4. Eng 22-0 (Roy 1, Hales 19)published at 2 overs

    Hales has tape covering the name and number on his shirt - I'm guessing that is because it actually has another player's details on it. Regardless of whose shirt he is wearing, Hales has set off like a train. He swivels to pull a four off Kagiso Rabada's first ball and picks up further boundaries with a clip off his legs and a straight drive. Hales is seeing it like a beachball. 

  5. How's stat?!published at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    England have batted first in each of their last six T20 matches and are undefeated in that span (W5 T1), though three of those wins were by five runs or fewer.

  6. Postpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special

    "Hales is in tremendous form. What a great way to start for him."

  7. Eng 10-0published at 1 over

    Alex HalesImage source, Getty Images

    Alex Hales' last six scores: 57, 99, 65, 50, 112, 78. He is a man in form.

    He is quickly into his stride with a pull for four after Jason Roy's first-ball single. He then pulls another for two more. Abbott clearly thinks short is the way to go to Hales. 10 off the over. Good start for the tourists.

  8. Postpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Well played that cameraman. The teams are ready to play but he has to scarper quickly when he realises he is the reason we haven't started yet. Thinks he's Spielberg.

  9. Postpublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    There are still some dark clouds in the sky as Kyle Abbott prepares to deliver the first over. The forecast is OK, so hopefully we won't have any unwelcome interruptions. 

  10. Postpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Here come the teams. South Africa first, followed by England. National anthems first, then we'll get down to business.

  11. Postpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "It is a sell out and will sell out at the Wanderers. This tour has been terrific. Everyone has been excited by the cricket, it has been terrific cricket and the crowds are coming in and having a great time."

  12. 'Shame about the result'published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    England lost by 17 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-hit women's international before this match. Report available here.

  13. Postpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    "When teams sit down to look at the England side they will be more concerned about how to get Root, Stokes, Morgan or Buttler out, rather than worrying about the bowlers.

    "It is a batsman’s game but at least Morgan has got options. It is not a fearsome attack but with really six front line bowlers, he is never completely short of a bowler."

  14. Postpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    #bbccricket

    Zigzag: Swap Billings for Stokes and Jordan for Finn, and that would be my team for the WorldT20

    Peterfeet: why why why Jordan again? The new Dernbach contributes nothing but runs to opposition but is undroppable.

  16. Captain's quotespublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis on his decision to bat: "Obviously it is the first game of the series and we are not sure what is a good total. The weather came into the decision-making a little but it might be the same for 40 overs.

    "We have had no game time but it was just nice to get in the nets and practise T20 skills. 

    "It is the first game of series, we have been playing good cricket, it is about getting a little bit of momentum going into the World Cup."

  17. Captain's quotespublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    England captain Eoin Morgan: "We would have looked to bowl. I think Duckworth-Lewis might come into it later on. 

    "It was nice to get some runs in the warm-up match. I didn't spend a great deal of time in the middle but it was nice to get runs.

    "First and foremost the priority is to win these games so we will play our strongest 11. We might change our team due to the surface but today we are playing what we think is our best 11."

    Eoin Morgan scored 42 from 13 balls in England's warm-up game against South Africa A.

  18. Rain impactpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

    A view of the cloud over NewlandsImage source, AFP

    We've had some rain earlier (which caused one disruption before calling a halt to the women's game between South Africa and England), so that is likely to be a factor. Du Plessis admitted his decision to bowl had taken that into account.

  19. How's stat?!published at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2016

  20. Team newspublished at 15:35

    Quinton de Kock has a "slight niggle" according to Du Plessis and so he misses out, with AB de Villiers taking the keeping gloves. Eoin Morgan says England have selected what they think is their strongest team.

    England: Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Moeen, Jordan, Rashid, Willey, Topley.

    South Africa: Amla, De Villiers, Du Plessis, Duminy, Rossouw, Miller, Wiese, Morris, Abbott, Rabada, Tahir.