Joe Denly’s miserable run of form in South Africa continued on Sunday when he failed with the bat for the second successive Twenty20 international.

Denly made just 14 from as many deliveries as England slumped to a heavy defeat at Centurion. Having hit two boundaries, the Kent opener got an inside edge on to his stumps from a Yusuf Abdulla delivery.

Ironically, there was better news for Denly with the ball when he took a wicket with his first delivery in international cricket. After a record-breaking opening stand of 170, Denly’s part-time spin accounted for South African captain Graeme Smith, who was caught at wide long-on by Saj Mahmood. Denly finished with figures of 1-9 from the only over he bowled.

Two days earlier, Denly was out for a golden duck when England beat South Africa in Johannesburg by one run under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

He must now wait to see if he has done enough to earn a place in the first one-day international in Johannesburg on Friday but it sees likely that captain Andrew Strauss will return to open with Alastair Cook.