DURBAN, Feb 11: Herschelle Gibbs hit a flawless century but his South African team struggled in a rain-hit innings in the sixth limited-overs international against England at Kingsmead on Friday.

Gibbs hit 118 in a South African total of 211 all out. After a break of one hour 40 minutes, the overs were reduced to 48 a side - but South Africa failed to bat out their full allocation. They were 180 for seven when rain fell after 42.4 overs.

England's target according to the Duck worth/Lewis method was 213 in 48 overs. Gibbs was alone among the South African batsmen in mastering a disciplined England bowling attack. He was on 103 when rain stopped play.

With 5.2 overs remaining when play resumed, Gibbs went for his shots and hit another 15 off eight balls before being caught at long-on off the last ball of the 45th over. The last two wickets fell quickly with only three more runs added.

Medium-pacer Alex Wharf, playing in his first match of the series, took three for 48 in nine overs. But England's outstanding bowler was his new ball partner Darren Gough, who took two for 14 in nine overs.

South Africa lead the seven-match series 3-1 and England need to win both the last two matches to share the honours. Wharf put South Africa under immediate pressure when he dismissed top South African batsmen, skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, with successive deliveries in his second over.

Gibbs came out on a hat-trick with only one run scored for two wickets in 3.2 overs but his timing was immaculate from the start on a pitch which gave the bowlers some help under a heavily overcast sky. But South Africa suffered three blows shortly before the rain. Boucher was Wharf's third victim when he slashed a catch to third man. Gough, who had figures of one for 12 in eight overs, dismissed big-hitting Justin Kemp for nought when Kemp played a cramped hook shot and was caught at fine leg.

Then Shaun Pollock was also out without scoring, leg before to Paul Collingwood. Gibbs meanwhile reached his 15th one-day international century off 122 balls when he pounded Kabir Ali through the covers off the back foot for his seventh four.

He also hit a six. He hit three more boundaries before his 133-ball innings was ended when he tried to hit Kabir Ali for a straight six. South Africa made two changes after winning three matches in succession with the same team. Opening batsman Bacher replaced AB de Villiers, while seam bowling all-rounder Andrew Hall played in place of left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.

England brought in Wharf, 29, after both Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were expensive in earlier matches. Wharf, from Glamorgan, started with a maiden, then had Smith chasing a slanted delivery to be caught at first slip. In what seemed a planned move, the first ball to Kallis was a bouncer and Kallis, trying to hook it, was caught off his glove at second slip.

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