De Villiers: Proteas on course for World T20

South Africa captain AB de Villiers said his side’s three-wicket win over reigning champions England was an encouraging sign ahead of this month’s World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. On a generally slow Chester-le-Street pitch taking turn South Africa restricted England to 118 for seven. Spinners Johan Botha and Robin Peterson took four wickets between them, as South Africa provided the latest evidence they are no longer solely reliant on pace bowling. Saturday’s win saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in a three-match series ahead of Monday’s clash in Manchester. De Villiers, asked if victory boded well for the team’s World Twenty20 chances, replied: “Definitely, it’s very similar to what we are expecting. “There was a little bit of turn, it was quite slowish. It was really good preparation. The bowlers had really clear plans and I’m proud of the way they came out. They made my job really easy out there.” South Africa suffered a top order collapse as they slumped to 29 for three. But an unbroken stand of 90 in 91 deliveries between veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis (48 not out) and JP Duminy (47 not out) saw the Proteas home with an over to spare. Kallis was returning after being rested from the preceding drawn one-day series between the two countries and an admiring de Villiers said of the world-class all-rounder: “Jacques, coming back from a bit of a break, made it look really easy, with JP obviously really playing well at the other end.