Levi, who had been playing in the Indian Premier League prior to joining up with the Sabres for the Friends Life t20 tournament in England, opened the batting and led his side to 191, with fellow Proteas player Albie Morkel contributing 38 runs.

Levi opened alongside England batsman Craig Kieswetter, who grew up in South Africa and played at Bishops College in Cape Town.

The big-hitting South African said after the match on This is Bristol: "It was good fun. It was nice to open with someone like Craig (Kieswetter), the last time I batted with him was in a school game about seven or eight years ago!

"I think, regardless of where you play, once you get the run-rate above nine, it's always going to be hard for the opposition.

"The guys were looking at 160, but we batted well in the middle and at the end to get us over 190 and the pressure built from there."

Also flying the South African flag high was Alfonso Thomas, who took three wickets as the Bears crumbled in their chase.