ENGLAND are “a much better team” than their performance in a seven-wicket one-day international defeat on Saturday against South Africa suggests, Katherine Brunt claimed.

Lizelle Lee shone for the visitors at New Road as she hit an unbeaten 92 to guide South Africa to a fairly comfortable win.

England recovered from 97 for eight, with Brunt smashing 72 off 98 balls as they finished on 189 for nine.

The hosts had struggled early on, opener Amy Jones top-scoring inside the top six with just 19 runs to her name.

Brunt may have steadied the ship but it was not enough.

She bowled Laura Wolvaardt as South Africa’s response got off to a shaky start but Lee guided the Proteas to a seven-wicket success in the first of three ODIs.

Brunt insisted there is more to come, saying: “It’s really gutting to lose like that because we’re a much better team than we showed.

“We played a few soft shots and were on the back foot from the beginning. Congratulations to them, they played really well.

“I always love to bowl first. I like to steam out and get my thing done. I didn’t think there was much in it and the wicket played the way it did the whole day.”

Lee was handed a reprieve when the umpires found in her favour as Brunt grounded a catch in the deep and she was then able to steer her side to an impressive victory.

“I honestly thought I caught it,” Brunt said.

“The umpires made their decision. Hopefully if we get one like that they will make a good decision for us.

“You can always come back stronger and that’s what we’re going to do. We need to get rid of some nerves. We’ll keep on the front foot and come out fighting next game.”