Live Score

SA won by 14 runs (DLS METHOD)

2:49 AM IST & 10:19 PM Local Time: South Africa hold their nerve in this rain-affected encounter to go 1-0 up in the 3-match series. Brilliant death bowling from Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen. South Africa only used 3 bowlers to bowl the 5 overs and take the series lead. The game was set up by the batters who had made 97 runs in 7.5 overs before rain arrived again to further shorten the fixture. England have now lost only their second T20I in Cardiff and both times the opponent were South Africa.

Earlier in the game, England won the toss and opted to bowl in what started as a 9-over per-side fixture. They had announced their XI a day before the game but made a late change, leaving out Jofra Archer and bringing in Luke Wood. 

Wood struck in his first over, removing Ryan Rickelton. He then removed Lhuan-dre Pretorius for 2. 

Aiden Markram made 28 off 14. Dewald Brevis (23 off 10) and Donovan Ferreira (25 off 11) made handy contributions.

7.5 overs were bowled when heavy rain forced the officials to take the players off. South Africa's innings ended at that stage and the revised target for England was 69 off the 5 overs.

England's chase started with a first-ball wicket as Phil Salt hit the ball straight down the throat of Kwena Maphaka. 

Jos Buttler made 25 off 11 to keep England in the hunt but wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

England fell 14 runs short of the target. Only Sam Curran (10* off 3) managed to get into double figures apart from Buttler in this five-over shootout.

Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, bowled two overs each and picked up two wickets apiece. Kagiso Rabada picked up a wicket in his only over in the game to help the Proteas to an easy win in the end.

Player of the Match: Donovan Ferreira

Donovan Ferreira (Player of the Match): "I think it could go anyway. But putting good score on the board and the bowlers stepping up to get us over the line.

It's nice to play for your country. Coming back into this series and impacting in this rain-curtailed game is good.

I wasn't thinking about the short boundaries. Just keep in good positions. I wasn't consciously thinking about the short boundaries.

It's about me to express myself. The coaches have given me the freedom. Not putting myself under pressure. Just more opportunity to express myself."

Harry Brook (England Captain): "I can't really look into it that much, it was a lot going on in this game. Lots of wet patches. We didn't execute as well as we could.

(On conditions) That's for the big dogs above me to make the decisions. We just have to go out there and try and perform as best as we can.

(On team combination) No, we thought our bowlers were skillful enough to restrict them to a decent total for us to chase.

(On Luke Wood) Yeah, he always gets wickets in his first over. He is an amazing attribute for us and like I said, he is a wicket taker."

Aiden Markram (South Africa Captain): "Obviously, how the things unfold, we were hurrying up. Happy with the guys for getting that score on the board. The bowlers were always under pressure but happy to see them execute their plans.

It feels like madness. It was swinging with the new ball. You basically need one or two guys to get the cameos and get to a good total. We had Brevis and Donovan hitting those.

Keshav was going to play here. He tweaked his groin. He was out of this game anyway. With a short game, Corbin comes in.

Marco has been out of cricket for a while now. To come in and run in and set the tone was incredible. They did a fine job."

Right then. South Africa have taken an early lead in the series by winning the rain-curtailed fixture tonight. The action now shifts to Manchester for the second T20I, which will be played on Friday. That's it from all of us for tonight. Keep joining us for more cricketing action all around the globe. For now, this is me, Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh, scorer Zeeshan Naiyer and statistician Aman. Bye bye.