Eoin Morgan played a stunning innings of 85 not out off 45 balls as England piled up 202 for six after being sent in to bat in the first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
The left-handed Morgan and England captain Paul Collingwood shrugged off a poor start and launched a savage assault on the South African bowlers in a fourth wicket partnership of 98 off 55 balls.
Collingwood hit 57 off 32 balls, with three fours and four sixes, while Morgan slammed seven fours and five sixes, including one hit off Dale Steyn that sailed over the square leg boundary and out of the ground, landing in a block of flats.
England lost Joe Denly to the first ball of the match, bowled by Charl Langeveldt, and Alastair Cook followed in the fourth over.
Former South Africa under-19 player Jonathan Trott started England's recovery with an impressive 33 off 25 balls, hitting Steyn for four successive boundaries, before he was run out.
Collingwood and Morgan swung the game England's way as they took advantage of an excellent batting pitch and a fast outfield.
Ryan McLaren, making his Twenty20 international debut, was South Africa's best bowler, taking three for 33 in four overs.
