England were spurred by defeat says Trott

Jonathan Trott has revealed England were spurred on to victory against South Africa A last night by the memory of their 84-run demolition at the hands of the senior Proteas side in the second Twenty20 international last weekend.

The tourists were made to dig deep against the home side in Potchefstroom but eventually prevailed by four wickets with 11 deliveries to spare.

It was a good comeback considering the manner of the defeat against Graeme Smith's team at Centurion on Sunday, with man-of-the-match Trott (78), captain Andrew Strauss (65) and Matt Prior (54) all chipping in with half-centuries.

It came after the South Africans had amassed a daunting 279 for nine, thanks largely to Andrew Puttick (62).

Trott was thrilled with the way his team-mates bounced back and is confident it will give them a major boost heading into the five-match one-day series, which starts in Johannesburg on Friday.

He said: "After the Twenty20 we were disappointed because we didn't play as well as we know we can.

"It was important that we came here with sort of our chests out and taking this game head-on, which we've done.

"That's very pleasing and we can now go back to the Wanderers full of confidence and really take on the South Africans."

South African-born Trott has made three-half centuries in his five visits to the crease during the tour thus far but is disappointed not to have kicked on to even bigger scores.

After taking 89 balls for his 78 last night in an innings that included five fours and a six, he continued: "It's pleasing, I would like to have got a hundred in one of these games.

"If I batted through I might well have been able to get close. I would liked to have got the three figures and get myself sky-high confidence.

"But I'm happy obviously with the runs that I've got. But the more important thing is that we won and we can take confidence into the five games coming up."

Trott also believes England's ability to beat South Africa A without a number of their key players shows the depth that is available within the squad.

Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood (both back), James Anderson (knee), Graeme Swann (intercostal muscle) and Stuart Broad (shoulder) were all carrying knocks, leaving the tourists with only 11 fit players.

Bowling coach Ottis Gibson was called upon at one stage for 12th man duty, and Trott added: "It just goes to show how strong our squad is.

"If anybody is called upon, whoever it is, they can do a job for the side."