England have been set 178 to win the first Twenty20 against South Africa at East London after a fluctuating performance in the field from their bowlers.
At one stage, South Africa, thanks to the efforts of openers Quinton de Kock (31 off 15 balls) and Temba Bavuma (43 from 27 deliveries), threatened to post a mammoth total after reaching 105 for one from 10 overs.
However, after Moeen Ali had taken one for 22, fellow spinner Adil Rashid (one for 23) and Ben Stokes (one for 24) checked the home side's progress and they eventually settled for 177 for eight in a three-match series where England are ramping up preparations for this year's T20 World Cup.
Tom Curran, Mark Wood and Chris Jordan endured a chastening experience up front but the latter came back well in the final over, taking two wickets in as many balls after South Africa were invited to bat first.
The combination of the spinners and Stokes stifled South Africa and meant that while David Miller briefly sparkled, his attempt to tuck into Curran meant he clubbed to Jordan running back from mid-off.
Andile Phehlukwayo smashed his first ball over long-off for six in the increasing gloom before dispatching Jordan over the midwicket boundary.
However, after Wood conceded only three from the penultimate over, including the wicket of Smuts, who struck a low full-toss to Stokes at mid-off, Jordan took centre stage.
He bowled both Dwaine Pretorius and Beuran Hendricks while Phehlukwayo was run out from the final ball of the innings, attempting a non-existent single after hitting straight back to the bowler.
