EOIN Morgan hailed England's resourcefulness after they chased down a tricky total on a testing wicket to go 2-0 up in their one-day series against South Africa.

After a high-scoring affair between the teams in the opening match of the series in Bloemfontein, a slow pitch in Port Elizabeth meant more of an attritional battle.

The Proteas were restricted to 262 for seven, with Reece Topley taking four for 50 and Chris Jordan taking a stunning catch over his head to account for dangerman AB de Villiers for 73.

In response, Alex Hales showed he is not just a one-trick pony with a measured 99 off 124 deliveries, while the in-form Jos Buttler ensured there were no late nerves with a 28-ball 48 helping England over the line after 46.2 overs with five wickets in hand.

Captain Morgan said: "That's what's most impressed me, we've come here and we've adapted to a wicket that we've not played on on a similar surface in a very, very long time.

"We're in a really good place at the moment but the challenge was adapting to conditions.

"The wicket made things very competitive and the game was always in the balance throughout the day.

"We were very happy (to chase) 260, we thought it was just below-par and given the way we've been playing recently with the bat we were certainly within range of chasing it down.

"Alex Hales was magnificent at the top, small partnerships between myself and him, and Joe Root and him, and then Jos Buttler at the end was top class."

Hales reined in his attacking instincts to play anchor in the run chase, riding his luck on occasion, but he was denied a second ODI hundred when he was caught behind after a leg-side delivery off Kyle Abbott looped off his thigh and nicked the edge of his bat.

He said: "If you could choose a delivery to get, (it would be) one on your hip down to fine leg, but unfortunately it wasn't to be."

Hales endured a chastening start to his Test career, averaging just 17 in four Tests against South Africa, and while he feels the experience will stand him in good stead he is happy to be in the more comfortable surroundings of white-ball cricket.

He added: "The Test series was difficult. This is a tough place to come and open the batting for anyone.

"It was a struggle for me but I've learned a lot and since we've switched to the white ball, I've felt in good touch in the nets and pleased I've managed to take it into the games."