Proteas crumble in Benoni as England clinch T20 series win

England dominated with both bat and ball to seal the T20 series as the Proteas women fell to a 36-run defeat on Wednesday.

South Africa needed a record 205 to win under lights in Benoni, but the hosts could only muster 168-6 as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

Their run-chase at Willowmoore Park got off to a disastrous start as Tazmin Brits was caught at midwicket for a two-ball duck.

Momentum shifted slightly the home side's way as captain Laura Wolvaardt and Faye Tunnicliffe made an encouraging 42-run stand.

However, spinner Sarah Glenn had other ideas as Tunnicliffe attempted to sweep but was bowled out for a 28-ball 22.

With the required run rate increasing, Wolvaardt hit three boundaries for 25 off 21 before she hit out and gave her wicket away to Charlie Dean.

Glenn took two consecutive wickets as she bowled both Annerie Dercksen, who contributed a solid 15-ball 24 knock, and Nondumiso Shangase for a duck.

All-rounder Chloe Tryon made a positive return after missing the first T20I, scoring a 24-ball 30 and sharing a decent 43-run stand with Nadine de Klerk.

However, the target proved too much for the Proteas lower order. De Klerk top-scored with an unbeaten 32 as the Proteas fell well short.

We take an unassailable lead in the T20I series ??#SAvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/XLwXahPrEj

After England were asked to bat first, the Proteas quickly struck as Ayanda Hlubi captured two wickets in her opening over.

Opener Maia Bouchier was caught at midwicket for nine, and then, two balls later, Sophia Dunkley got an inside edge to be bowled for a duck.

But that was the only fortune for the Proteas for a while as Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt put on a 112-run stand. It was a