England Men's Blind team 186-4 beat South Africa Men's Blind team 185-7 by six wickets
Captain David Howells absorbed the pressure to score 14 off the final over and take the England Men's Blind team to victory in the first of seven IT20s in South Africa.
Howells, batting at No.5, had to contend with the well-set Luke Sugg departing run-out of the penultimate ball of the 19th over - and the knowledge that the game was in his hands.
But he wasn't phased, striking two fours through mid-on to get his side off to a winning start. Sugg had earlier shone for the visitors, scoring a 38-ball 51 and putting on 83 for the third wicket alongside opener Matthew Dean, who himself made 58.
Sugg and Dean formed the backbone of England's response but when they both fell, the job fell to Howells to win the game. Earlier the hosts, having been asked to bat, had posted 184-7 from their 20 overs.
The two sides meet again at the same venue tomorrow, 8.30am GMT, with a live-stream available via Cricket South Africa's YouTube channel.
Howells said: "I'm delighted we've got the win and we've gone 1-0 up in the series. It's a long time since we've played together as a team so that will do really good things for our confidence as a group.
"It was a good game of cricket. When Deano and Luke were batting we were always confident, but it was a big chase and we're just delighted to have got over the line.
"I'd just like to say a special congratulations to Christopher Styles - who was there at the end - Robert Sholto-Douglas-Vernon and Thomas Froud. It's not every day you make your England debut and I hope they remember today forever."
10th November: England Men's Blind team 186-4 beat South Africa Men's Blind team 185-7 by six wickets
11th November: Match 2 at Christian Brothers College, Old Boys Memorial Club (8.30am GMT)
13th November: Match 3 at Tshwane University of Technology (8.30am GMT)
14th November: Match 4 at Tshwane University of Technology (8.30am GMT)
16th November: Match 5 at Christian Brothers College, Old Boys Memorial Club (8.30am GMT)
17th November: Match 6 at Tshwane University of Technology (8.30am GMT)
19th November: Match 7 at Christian Brothers College, Old Boys Memorial Club (8.30am GMT)