Chester-Le-Street, England, Sept 9 : South African Jacques Kallis guided his country to a seven-wicket win over World Twenty20 champions England in the first T20 international here yesterday.
At one point of time, the visitors were 29 for 3, while chasing 119 runs for victory. Opener Kallis, returning to international duty, made 48 not out of 44 balls with seven fours.
With JP Duminy (47 not out) Kallish shared an unbroken stand of 90 in 91 deliveries.
South Africa won the match with an over to spare, and are now 1-0 ahead in a three-match series, award of this month's World T20 Cup in Sri Lanka.
Earlier, South African opener Richard Levi was out, caught in the slips off Jade Dernbach and debutant Faf du Plessis was out lbw to fast bowler Steven Finn.
De Villiers was the next to go caught behind by Craig Kieswetter off seamer Dernbach for 10.
It was then then Kallish and Duminy came in to save their team for disaster.
England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad brought back Finn in a bid to break the stand but it didn't work out.
After de Villiers won the toss, spin bowlers Johan Both ( 2 for 19) and Robin Peterson (2 for 27) wrapped up four England wickets.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn took one for 13 in his maximum four overs.
At 85 for seven, England were in danger of posting their worst Twenty20 total, but Broad and Graeme Swann put up an unbroken stand of 33 in 27 balls. Both remain unbeated on 18 each.
The teams will play the second T20 at Manchester on Monday.
