LIAM Livingstone was unable to demonstrate his big-hitting best as England fell to a three-run defeat to South Africa in Taunton.

Making his international Twenty20 debut, Livingstone came to the crease with the hosts on 125 for 2 in the 14th over, needing another 50 runs to win.

But he could not help England build on the platform set by opener Jason Roy (67) and Jonny Bairstow, as they lost wickets regularly in the final five overs to fall just short.

Livingstone made 16 from 18 balls in a scratchy inning containing a single boundary, a pull to fine leg. He was lucky to escape an appeal for caught in the slips with a mistimed off Chris Morris when on seven, as the umpire turned the appeals down. Replays showed the ball hit his bat before his shoulder.

But he could not take advantage as more pressure came onto his shoulders with the loss of Roy, Jos Buttler and captain Eoin Morgan at the other end, and he eventually ran himself out going for a second off another pull shot, when partner Liam Dawson remained rooted to his crease.

Dawson hit a four of the penultimate ball, but needing another off the final ball, he could not connect with the delivery from Andile Phehlukwayo and South Africa claimed the win to level the three-match series at 1-1.

Barrow Cricket Club product Livingstone – who earlier in the day was named in the Lions squad to take on South Africa in a four-day match next week – will hope he gets a second chance when the sides meet again in the decider at Cardiff on Sunday.

The Lancashire ace was handed his cap by David Lloyd ahead of the match as the hosts restricted the Proteas to 174 for 8 from their 20 overs.

But it was the other debutant – Surrey’s Tom Curran – who stole the show, as he took three wickets, both players having missed out in the series opener at Southampton on Wednesday.

Curran made a fine start to his international career as he bowled Rezza Hendricks with only his second ball as the visitors batted first.

Contrarily, Livingstone had a moment he will want to forget when he dropped Morris on the boundary off the bowling of Chris Jordan in the 18th over – though the batsman was dismissed soon after as Curran claimed his second wicket of the innings.

AB De Villiers top-scored for South Africa, with a blockbusting innings of 46 from just 20 balls, with England’s bowlers pulling the game back in the final overs to restrict their opponents to 174.