DHAKA: England took the first honours in the Twenty20 series with a comfortable nine-wicket victory at Chelmsford having restricted South Africa to 89 for 4. 

The chase was dominated, as has so often been the case, by Charlotte Edwards who struck a 47-ball fifty.

For Edwards, it was a continuation of the form she showed in the one-day series against India where she made 57 and an unbeaten 108 to lead England to a 2-0 success after the dispiriting loss of the Test match at Wormsley. 

South Africa's innings never found any significant tempo; their Powerplay score was 23 for 1 and throughout the 20 overs they managed just seven fours. 

Dane van Niekerk top-scored with 36 but it took her 54 deliveries although, especially early in the innings, it was less about the quality of stroke for South Africa but more about placement as they regularly picked out the tight off-side field.

The only wicket to fall in England's chase was Lauren Winfield who was run out in a dismissal that did not leave either her or Edwards overly impressed. 

Edwards had dabbed the ball into the off side and as Winfield reacted to the call, the bowler Moseline Daniels ran across from her follow-through towards the off side, cutting in front of Winfield. 

The match was a canter for Edwards and Taylor. South Africa tried eight bowlers with little impact as Edwards put on a skilful display of strokeplay - regularly picking the gaps through the leg side, both through and over the field - but even she may hope that her team is tested a little more in the remaining two outings.

Source: espncricinfo.com

BDST: 1058 HRS, SEP 02, 2014