JOHANNESBURG — AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla blasted South Africa to victory by nine wickets after England collapsed in the second Twenty20 International at the Wanderers Stadium Sunday.
De Villiers and Amla made England's total of 171 look puny as they thrashed 125 runs in a 55-ball opening stand.
De Villiers, on the ground on which he hit the world's fastest One-Day International century against the West Indies last season, thrashed 79 off 29 balls with six fours and six sixes.
On the way he reached his fifty off 21 balls, the fastest for South Africa.
Amla was slightly more restrained but played some powerful strokes in making 69 not out off 38 balls with eight fours and three sixes.
The ease of South Africa's win, which completed a 2-0 series victory, did not look a possibility while England captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler were pounding sixes in a fourth wicket stand of 96 off 55 balls.
England had reached 157 for three and seemed set for a total well in excess of 200.
But Buttler (54) and Morgan were out off successive balls and England lost its last seven wickets for 14 runs after it had looked set to post a total in excess of 200.
De Villiers said he was happy to be opening the batting in 20 overs cricket.
"I'll have to keep performing but I'll open for as long as they want me to."
Morgan, who was unlucky to be run out for 38 when bowler Kyle Abbott deflected a powerful drive from Ben Stokes into the stumps, said the collapse was "disappointing".
England's collapse started when Buttler hit the third ball of the 17th over from Abbott into the covers where Du Plessis held a low catch, which had to be confirmed by the television umpire.
Buttler made 54 off 28 balls with four fours and four sixes.
Wickets tumbled, with Abbott finishing with three for 26. Chris Morris picked up two and Kagiso Rabada finished off the innings.
It was the last match of a tour during which England won a four-match Test series 2-1 and South Africa won a five-match One-Day International series 3-2.
Scores:
England 171 all out in 19.4 overs (J. Root 34, E. Morgan 38, J. Buttler 54; Rabada 2-28, Abbott 3-26, Morris 2-33). South Africa 172-1 in 14.4 overs (H. Amla 69 not out, A. de Villiers 71, F. du Plessis 22 not out).
