Kevin Pietersen's return can't save England as South Africa level series

South Africa 241-6 (20 overs) beat England 157-8 (20.0 overs) by 84 runs.

A world-record opening partnership from Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman helped South Africa bounce back from defeat in the opening Twenty20 international against England to seal an emphatic 84-run victory at Centurion.

A world-record 170-run opening partnership from Graeme Smith (88) and Loots Bosman (94) helped the hosts reach a massive 241 for six - the second highest 20-over total ever - before disciplined bowling helped restrict the tourists to 157 for eight.

Jonathan Trott also hit a half-century, but the writing seemed to be on the wall early on after a monumental batting display by Smith and Bosman, who surpassed the previous 145 mark set by West Indies batsmen Chris Gayle and Devon Smith in 2007.

The pair did the damage in just 13 overs with the captain eventually out first for 88, followed by Bosman for 94 from 45 balls - the highest ever individual effort by a Proteas player. - to surpass the previous 145 mark set by Chris Gayle and Devon Smith in 2007.

After just 14 came from the first three overs bowled by James Anderson and Tim Bresnan, Sajid Mahmood was introduced to bowl an eventful fourth over in which he conceded 21 runs.

His first three balls, the third of which was a no-ball were ruthlessly dispatched for boundaries by Smith, before the home captain was bowled off a free-hit. Mahmood then had Bosman out caught at mid-off, only for the umpire to signal another no-ball and the right-hander ended the over with a six over midwicket.

Another Bosman maximum, which flew agonisingly past the fingers of Luke Wright, saw the Proteas race past 50 in the fifth over, before the same fielder was introduced into the attack, but to no avail. Two sixes and four saw the Sussex all-rounder hit for 18, while he was also responsible for a difficult dropped chance off the fifth ball when he failed to grab on to Smith's powerful drive.

Adil Rashid was introduced in the seventh over but he also came in for stick against Smith, who smashed the first two balls for consecutive sixes over midwicket to reach 50 in 25 balls.

There was some hope that the next ball had seen the South African captain stumped, but replays showed he was in and two more sixes meant a 25-run over for Rashid as the hosts breezed past 100 in 7.5 overs. Bosman raised his half-century with a 200 strike rate to help his side reach the halfway stage at 131 without loss.

There was some respite for the visitors when the 11th over, bowled by Wright, went for just seven, but 19 off the next Mahmood over took South Africa past 150.

The ball was tossed to the returning Pietersen, but he also went for runs, before the breakthrough finally came from another unlikely source, Joe Denly - his first ball in international cricket bringing an end to Smith's 44-ball knock as he was caught by Mahmood at long on. Albie Morkel came in and clubbed 14 from six balls, but gave Pietersen his first T20 wicket when he picked out Bresnan at long-on.

The 200 was raised in the 16th over before JP Duminy (two) and Bosman fell in quick succession, but AB de Villiers (24) took his side to 241 for six - the second best international 20-over score.