(BBC) England produced a strong batting display to beat South Africa A by four wickets in their final warm-up before the one-day series begins on Friday.
Replying to the hosts’ 279-9, in-form skipper Andrew Strauss gave his side a fine start with a 71-ball 65.
The tourists looked to be in trouble at 165-4 with 16.4 overs left.
But Jonathan Trott (74) and Matt Prior (54) put on 66 runs to keep them in contention and Luke Wright (25 not out) saw them home with 11 balls to spare.
All-rounder Wright had earlier been the pick of England’s bowlers, removing skipper Hashim Amla and the experienced Herschelle Gibbs as he took 2-48 from his 10 overs.
The Sussex’s contribution was timely given England were without three front-line bowlers because of injury.
James Anderson had a knee problem, fellow paceman Stuart Broad was still struggling with a shoulder complaint and off-spinner Graeme Swann suffered a side strain in a Twenty20 international last Friday.
With Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood both nursing sore backs, the tourists were down to 11 fit men but produced an encouraging response.
And there was even a sign that their injury misfortunes could be taking a turn for the better as Graham Onions returned 2-46 in nine overs in his first appearance of the tour following a back problem.
“It just goes to show how strong our squad is,” said Trott. “If anybody is called upon it just goes to show that whoever it is, they can do a job for the side.”
Amla (37) and Andrew Puttick (62) put on 77 for the first wicket before the former struck Wright firmly to mid-wicket where he was caught by Strauss, who returned to the side after missing the two Twenty20 internationals.
Despite Strauss’ fluent knock, England’s response was falling behind the required scoring rate when Trott and Prior came together in a fifth-wicket stand of 66 off 64 balls.
With 64 needed off the final seven overs, the pair combined to hit 15 off the 44th over, bowled by Morne Morkel, at the start of the final powerplay.
Trott hit a four and a six off successive balls before he was bowled going for another big hit.
But Wright batted in his usual aggressive style and the match was virtually decided when he and Prior scored 17 off an over from CJ de Villiers, which ended with Prior being bowled with only three runs needed.
Wright hit the first ball of the next over for four to seal victory.
“I think it was a nicely measured innings from us,” Trott added. “Andrew Strauss set it up nicely at the beginning and along with Joe Denly gave us a good start.
“I then came in and sort of got going. There was then a little period where the guys came in, getting themselves in and then getting themselves out unfortunately.
“But Matt Prior came in and played an awesome innings – I just batted around him and then Luke Wright came in and played his part, the way we know he can, and we got ourselves home.”
The one-day international series begins in Johannesburg on Friday – while England have added seamer Liam Plunkett to their squad as cover for the first two ODIs.