Lions carve up South Africa

Steady contributions from the England Lions batsmen ensured they got their revenge on South Africa with a six-wicket victory at Derby.

Eoin Morgan (47 not out) and Samit Patel (60 not out) took their team to their target of 210 with an unbeaten partnership of 113 for the fifth wicket and 8.4 overs to spare.

Matt Prior had opened the innings alongside Jonathan Trott and ran out his partner for just two, but atoned with an innings of 33 to set up the Lions innings.

He was joined by Owais Shah, whose 46 came off 48 balls and included three sixes, as he warms up for the NatWest Series which starts with a Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

Captain Ed Joyce fell in unusual circumstances when he hit his wicket to the bowling of Andre Nel, but Morgan and Patel combined to ensure the Lions got home with no further mishaps.

The hosts’ seam attack had earlier combined to limit the Proteas to 209 for five in their 50 overs after Joyce won the toss.

Dimitri Mascarenhas took two wickets to get the ball rolling for England Lions at Derby

Dimitri Mascarenhas and Trott both picked up two wickets as Darren Pattinson was the only one of seven bowlers used to cost more than four runs per over.

It was left to Mark Boucher and Vernon Philander to rescue South Africa’s faltering innings after the sixth-wicket pair came together on 117.

Tim Bresnan showed admirable control with the new ball as his first six overs only cost 11 runs while opening partner Sajid Mahmood’s went for 22.

They combined to frustrate opening batsmen Herschelle Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith who returned to action following a back complaint.

Smith made 50 from 67 balls before he was bowled by Mascarenhas but his usually explosive partner was forced to play a more patient game with 28 from 57 deliveries.

Gibbs was the first wicket to fall, bowled by Pattinson, with the score on 67.

Jacques Kallis’ struggle for runs continued as he was lbw to Mascarenhas for 11 and Smith followed soon after to leave the tourists 97 for three.

Trott then bowled AB de Villiers for five and had JP Duminy caught behind by Prior for six to leave South Africa in trouble.

But Boucher, who hit five fours and two sixes, summoned all his experience to salvage a respectable total as he added 92 with Philander.

The wicketkeeper finished with 63 to his name while Philander had 31.