Alex Hales fires England to victory over South Africa A in T20 warm-up match

England have won their T20 warm-up match against South Africa A in Paarl by 44 runs. The tourists posted an intimidating score of 202 for six from their 20 overs. South Africa A gave the run chase a good effort, but the total always appeared to be beyond them.

England built an imposing score based around Alex Hales' blistering innings of 78 off 52 balls. The tall right-hander struck nine fours and three sixes during his thrilling knock, which kick-started the match in spectacular fashion.

Hales just continued his impressive run from the recent one-day international series, in which he scored four fifties and one hundred. He was ably supported by England's under-pressure skipper Eoin Morgan, who has struggled for runs so far on the tour, but recorded a 13-ball 42 in Paarl.

In response, Reece Topley removed Reeza Hendricks in the first over of the innings. But South Africa rebuilt through Theunis de Bruyn, who scored a 32-ball half century.

However, the run rate continued to climb through the second part of their innings and South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals, finishing on 158 for eight from 20 overs.

England – who rested Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali for the warm-up game – begin their T20 series against South Africa in Cape Town on 19 February.