England captain Heather Knight upbeat despite South Africa defeat: "Not too many panic stations"

The 2009 winners kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a surprise six-wicket loss in Perth after an error-strewn display with the bat and in the field

• South Africa stun England
• ENGLAND V SOUTH AFRICA TALKING POINTS

Heather Knight says England will not panic despite starting their T20 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket defeat to South Africa in Perth.

The 2009 winners, who have three times finished as runners-up, put on just 123 for 8 from their 20 overs with only three players reaching double figures.

South Africa were always in control in the chase and Mignon du Preez polished off the innings with a breezy 15 from 11 balls on her 100th T20I outing to secure the win.

With three group games to come, passage to the knock-out stage as one of the top two in Group B remains well within England's grasp but they can ill-afford any further slip-ups.

And Knight is unwilling to fret over her side's prospects in Australia, despite the error-strewn display at the WACA.

"We've got to park it and move on quickly," she told Test Match Special.

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"We fought really hard, started well with the bat but the dot balls in the middle cost us. 

"The bowlers responded brilliantly, but it didn't quite come off for us. A brilliant game of cricket, credit to South Africa, they played well. 

"Quite a tight game, so that will take a lot out of us - we've got to park it and move on quickly as we've got a game in Canberra in a couple of days. 

"There are a lot of teams that can win this World Cup, every team has matchwinners. Not too many panic stations - we know we didn't get enough with the bat."

England resume their campaign against minnows Thailand at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday (February 26).