Reeza Hendricks, a top-order batsman for South Africa, scored his third successive half-century as the visitors crushed England at The Rose Bowl by a massive 90 runs to win the three-match T20 International series 2-1.
The Proteas humiliated the hosts on Sunday night with Hendricks' 50-ball 70 and Tabraiz Shamsi's five-for as they bowled out Jos Buttler's England for only 101 runs in 16.4 overs after registering 191/5 in their 20 overs.
South Africa has only suffered four losses in their last 20 games in the shortest version of the game as the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia approaches.
Hendricks, who was in fine form, got things started in Southampton with a masterful 70, and it should come as no surprise that the right-hander was crowned "Player of the Series" for his 180 runs, three half-tons included.
A vital performer for the Proteas in the T20 World Cup in October-November of this year, Shamsi was the wrecker with the ball in the final game of the series as he finished with his first five-wicket haul in T20Is.
While England's Test fortunes have improved under new coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, the team has lost four straight games. However, the same cannot be said for their white-ball sides, which are captained by Buttler.
Without winning a white-ball series, England will end the summer, and their 2-1 T20I series defeat to South Africa is probably their most discouraging result. Jonny Bairstow led the hosts in scoring with 27, but there were few and far between highlights, giving Matthew Mott, the new white-ball coach from Australia, much to think about before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Mott is aware that he has a lot on his plate as England now has 10 games left before they face Afghanistan on October 22 to open their T20 World Cup campaign. Since taking over in May, the Australian coach's team has dropped consecutive T20I series, and he is aware that improvement is necessary if his squad hopes to compete in Australia.
"I've just spoken to Jos (Buttler) very briefly and this is a line in the sand moment for the team," Mott was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
Brief scores: South Africa 191/5 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 70, Aiden Markram 51 not out; David Willey 3/25) beat England 101 in 16.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 27; Tabraiz Shamsi 5/24, Keshav Maharaj 2/21) by 90 runs.