MANCHESTER, England, July 4: Jacques Kallis struck an unbeaten 82 on Thursday following his consecutive centuries at the weekend to guide South Africa to a seven wicket win over England in their triangular one-day series match.

Kallis was in prime form again after scoring 107 against England on Saturday followed by an unbeaten 125 in the match against Zimbabwe on the following day.

He added an unbeaten 145 for the fourth wicket with Jacques Rudolph (71 not out) as South Africa overhauled England’s 223 for seven with 15 balls to spare in the day-night match at Old Trafford.

Marcus Trescothick rescued England once again with a belligerent 60, his 14th one-day international half century, after England had been reduced to seven for two.

Trescothick helped Anthony McGrath (52) add 114 for the third wicket before he was caught skying a sweep off part-time spinner Martin van Jaarsveld. McGrath was out shortly after reaching his first one-day 50 with four boundaries.

England made an awful start on an overcast afternoon at Old Trafford with Vikram Solanki, who hit his maiden one-day century against South Africa at The Oval on Saturday, falling for four and captain Michael Vaughan succumbing for three. Both were caught behind by Mark Boucher.

Trescothick took successive driven fours off Makhaya Ntini and McGrath followed suit with two square cuts to the boundary from paceman Andrew Hall.

Following Trescothick’s dismissal in the 31st over, England slumped to 176 for seven before Chris Read (30 not out) and Ashley Giles (20 not out) added 47 from 35 balls in an unbroken partnership.

Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock bowled a remorselessly accurate opening spell of seven overs for five runs with four maidens and took the wicket of England captain Michael Vaughan (3) at the start of the England innings. He finished with figures of 10-4-21-1.

South Africa made a faltering start with openers Herschelle Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith again failing.

Gibbs was run out for one after Solanki dived full length and under-armed the ball on to the bowler’s stumps while Smith was comprehensively bowled by James Anderson for 22.

Andrew Hall, promoted to number three in place of Kallis, was bowled by Flintoff for 29, giving Kallis and Rudolph the chance to seize centre stage.

Scoreboard

England

M.Trescothick c Boje b van Jaarsveld 60

V.Solanki c Boucher b Ntini 4

M.Vaughan c Boucher b Pollock 3

A.McGrath st Boucher b Boje 52

A.Flintoff c Smith b Kallis 12

J.Troughton c Gibbs b Ntini 5

C.Read not out 30

R.Johnson b Ntini 10

A.Giles not out 20

Extras (b-4 lb-10 nb-3 w-10) 27

Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 223

Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-7 3-121 4-140 5-162 6-162 7-176

Did not bat: J.Anderson, D.Gough

Bowling: Pollock 10-4-21-1, Ntini 8-0-38-3, Hall 7-0-43-0, Langeveldt 6-0-25-0, Boje 10-0-46-1, van Jaarsveld 5-1-18-1, Kallis 4-1-18-1.

South Africa

G.Smith b Anderson 22

H.Gibbs run out 1

A.Hall b Flintoff 29

J.Kallis not out 82

J.Rudolph not out 71

Extras (lb-11 nb-2 w-9) 22

Total (for three wickets, 47.3 overs) 227

Fall of wickets: 1-24 2-37 3-82

Did not bat: M.Boucher, M.van Jaarsveld, S.Pollock, N.Boje, C.Langeveldt, M.Ntini

Bowling: Anderson 7-0-37-1, Gough 10-0-38-0, Flintoff 9.3-2-33-1, Johnson 7-0-30-0, Giles 9-0-51-0, Vaughan 5-0-27-0

Result: South Africa won by seven wickets.—Reuters