ENGLAND claimed their first Twenty20 international victory over South Africa in three attempts thanks to half-centuries from Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan, with the torrential Johannesburg rain also providing a helping hand.

Chasing 203 for victory, the hosts had raced away to 97 without loss after 8.3 overs after exhilarating hitting from Loots Bosman (58) and Graeme Smith (41) early on, but three quick wickets saw them pegged back to 127 for three.

That was after 13 overs when the heavens opened over the Wanderers, leaving the home side just a single run short under the Duckworth/Lewis method of what would have been a tie.

Morgan had earlier hit an unbeaten 85 – the highest individual total by an Englishman in the shortest format of the game – and his captain 57 as the pair put on 98 from 57 balls.

Jonathan Trott also impressed on his return to his country of birth with a quick-fire 33 to give England a fine chance of victory.

At the start South Africa looked to have justified their decision to bowl first after winning the toss with Charl Langeveldt trapping Joe Denly lbw with the first ball of the innings.

Alastair Cook, who overcame a sore throat to take his place in the side, again looked unconvincing at the crease and his eight-ball innings yielded 11 runs before he was out lbw to debutant Ryan McLaren, who took three for 33.

Trott looked unflustered in his first innings against his former countrymen, walking down the wicket to Langeveldt for his first four through the covers.

He then punished Dale Steyn in the fifth over with four boundaries in a row to claim 18 off the over.

England breezed past 50 in the sixth over, but a needless run-out in the next cost them a third wicket.

Trott was the victim when attempting to steal a quick single to Smith, who combined with bowler Roelof van der Merwe to send the batsman back to the pavilion.

The 100 came up from 72 balls with another boundary off the expensive Steyn at the start of a 12th over which went for 14, including a mighty six which flew out of the ground over deep square leg.

The 50 partnership followed from 31 balls, with both players then reaching their half-centuries, Collingwood from 27 deliveries and Morgan off 29.

But the skipper’s 32-ball knock ended shortly after when he was caught in the deep by Johan Botha off McLaren.

Luke Wright (three) and Matt Prior (nought) went cheaply in the closing stages of an innings which saw the visitors’ total of 202 for six, with Morgan’s unbeaten effort coming from 45 deliveries.

South Africa made a circumspect start to their response with just two taken from the first over, but that was largely due to Smith taking most of the strike.

Once Bosman had his turn he was brutal on the bowlers, hitting Tim Bresnan for 10 off the second over and then James Anderson for 16.

The hosts raced past 50 in the sixth over, just as their captain began to find his attacking touch with six boundaries from eight balls, three of them going for six.

Graeme Swann was introduced in the eighth over to try to stem the flow of runs, but he was also dispatched over the ropes by each batsman.

Bosman brought up his half-century from just 26 balls before Luke Wright finally had Smith caught by Morgan at deep point for 41.

After taking his side past 100 in the 10th over, Bosman also perished, skying Swann to Collingwood.

Sajid Mahmood put his side in control when he trapped JP Duminy lbw and with the score at 121 for three after 12 overs. It meant South Africa needed just seven from the 13th over to force a tie.

But AB de Villiers (10) and Albie Morkel (nine) managed just six off an excellent Anderson over before rain halted play. (Eurosport)