September 02, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1429

LONDON, Sept 1: England took a 4-0 series lead on Sunday with a seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the rain-affected fourth One-day International at Lord’s (also partly reported in Monday’s edition).

Set a revised total of 137 in 20 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system, England made 137-3 in 17.4 overs with Owais Shah unbeaten on 44 and Andrew Flintoff scoring 31 not out from only 12 balls.

South Africa made 183-6 in 32.1 overs after rain delayed the start of play by two hours with Herschelle Gibbs top-scoring with 74. All-rounder Flintoff was the best English bowler with 3-21 from seven overs.

By winning the 5th one-dayer in Cardiff on Wednesday, England can sweep the series and replace South Africa as the second-best side in the ICC one-day world rankings.

England struggled in their run chase at first, reduced to 19-2 after losing Matt Prior (0) and Ian Bell (13). Recovering to 52-2 from 10 overs, England captain Kevin Pietersen smashed three consecutive fours off Jacques Kallis and Shah ended the 11th over with a six to take the score to 73.

Pietersen was out for 40 after hitting Johan Botha for six but had done enough to put England n command.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

H.H. Gibbs b Broad 74

H.M. Amla run out 34

J.H. Kallis ct Prior b Flintoff 1

A.B. de Villiers ct Flintoff b Patel 14

J.P. Duminy ct Bell b Flintoff 20

M.V. Boucher not out 10

V.D. Philander ct Anderson b Flintoff 10

J. Botha not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-11, W-7) 18

TOTAL (for six wkts, 32.1 overs) 183

FALL OF WKTS: 1-66, 2-75, 3-113, 4-155, 5-

158, 6-179.

DID NOT BAT: M. Morkel, D.W. Steyn, A. Nel.Bowling: Anderson 3-0-23-0; Broad 6.1-0-33-1 (1w); Harmison 4-0-35-0; Flintoff 7-1-21-3 (2w); Collingwood 5-0-26-0; Patel 7-0-34-1.

ENGLAND:

I.R. Bell c Boucher b Morkel 13

M.J. Prior c Boucher b Steyn 0

O.A. Shah not out 44

K.P. Pietersen c Amla b Botha 40

A. Flintoff not out 31

EXTRAS (B-2, W-7) 9

TOTAL (for three wkts, 17.4overs) 137

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-19, 3-93.

DID NOT BAT: P.D. Collingwood, S.R. Patel, L.J. Wright, S.C.J. Broad, S.J. Harmison, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING: Steyn 3-0-17-1 (1w); Nel 2.4-0-11-0 (2w); Morkel 4-0-32-1(4w); Philander 4-0-30-0; Kallis 1-0-20-0; Botha 3-0-25-1.

RESULT: England won by seven wickets after their target was revised to 137 in 20 over under D/L Method.

UMPIRES: M.R. Benson (England) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: I.J. Gould (England).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Andrew Flintoff.

—Agencies