Edwards leads England to emphatic win

England 138 for 6 (Edwards 45) beat South Africa 84 for 4 by 54 runs
Scorecard

England dominated the first of three Twenty20s by thumping South Africa by 54 runs at Northampton on Friday. Charlotte Edwards' 34-ball 45 helped give England the early momentum and her team-mates joined her in hitting out to boost the home side to 138 for 6. In reply, South Africa struggled from the off to seal the conclusion early on, though they didn't fold entirely.

Claire Taylor missed out with illness but England still cashed in, although Ebony Rainford-Brent registered a duck on debut, coming in for the last few balls of the first innings after Cri-Zelda Brits sent them in.

South Africa soon slumped to 28 for 4, as Isa Guha, Katherine Brunt and Holly Colvin troubled them, but Brits and Susan Benade were able to add a respectable unbeaten 56. Brits will be happy with that kind of spirit - the England leg of this tour has been about fighting back.

Benade was unbeaten on 34 from 41 balls, having earlier picked up 2 for 21, while Brits was unbeaten on 20. This was only the fourth Twenty20 for Brits' side and South Africa will barely have time to pause for breath before returning to the County Ground on Saturday for a double-header after Wednesday's opener was washed out.