04 February 2005	Friday	24 Zilhaj 1425

BLOEMFONTEIN, Feb 3: England took three wickets in a dramatic final over to force a tie in the second one-day international against South Africa on Wednesday, partly reported on Thursday's edition.

The home side, chasing England's 270 for five and hoping to level the seven-match series at 1-1, looked firm favourites on 263 for five and needing eight to win off fast bowler Kabir Ali's final six balls.

The match seemed settled when Ali bowled a full-pitch no-ball with his first delivery which Mark Boucher pulled for four. Boucher was caught off an identical shot next ball and Ashwell Prince was run out but South Africa still only needed one run off the final delivery with the scores tied.

All- rounder Andrew Hall missed it, however, and was stumped by wicket keeper Geraint Jones, standing up, as the home side ended on 270 for eight, sparking huge celebrations among the England fielders.

Ali's first seven overs had cost 49 runs. Jacques Kallis (63) and Herschelle Gibbs (78) had put on 134 for the third South African wicket to give their side a chance of victory. Gibbs passed 5,000 runs in one-day international cricket but the home side still needed 82 off the last 10 overs and 36 off five.

Gibbs fell to a fine catch by Darren Gough at backward square leg off Matthew Hoggard but Justin Kemp, Boucher and Shaun Pollock waded with some big hitting at the death before their hopes were dashed by Ali.

SCOREBOARD



ENGLAND 270-5



SOUTH AFRICA 



G.Smith c Jones b Hoggard                  25 



A de Villiers c sub (V.Solanki) b Ali      20 



J.Kallis c Trescothick b Giles             63 



H.Gibbs c Gough b Hoggard                  78 



J.Kemp b Gough                             32 



M.Boucher c Giles b Ali                    15 



S.Pollock not out                          17 



A.Prince run out                           0 



A.Hall st Jones b Ali                      0 



Extras (b-4 lb-6 w-5 nb-5)                 20 



Total (for eight wkts, 50 overs)           270



Did not bat: M.Ntini, A. Nel



Fall of wkts: 1-47, 2-51, 3-185 4-237 5-239 6-268 7-269 8-270



Bowling: Gough 10-0-49-1 (w-2), Hoggard 10-1-42-2 (w-2), Ali 8-0-56-3 (nb-5), 
Collingwood 10-0-42-0, Giles 8-0-46-1 (w-1), Trescothick 4-0-25-0. -Reuters