CAPE TOWN, Nov 30 A.B. de Villiers lashed a sensational century as South Africa thrashed England by 112 runs in the third One-day International at Newlands on Friday to level the series at 1-1 (partly reported in Saturday's edition).

De Villiers showed skill and superb control as he reached a hundred in just 75 balls — the second fastest by a South African — and ended with 121 off 85 deliveries as the home side smashed 354 for six, their highest score against England and equalling their best at Newlands.

South Africa's previous highest total against England was 311 for seven in East London in 2004-05. The fastest one-day century for South Africa is in 44 balls by Mark Boucher against Zimbabwe in 2006.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Luke Wright played some breathtaking strokes as they raced to 41 in 5.3 overs, but returning fast bowlers Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel then reduced the visitors to 58 for three.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood shared a gritty 84-run partnership until part-time off-spinner J.P. Duminy removed Pietersen, sweeping a ball back on to his stumps, for 45.

Then Eoin Morgan went for a duck when 12th man Johan Botha sprinted in from the long-off boundary and caught him low to the ground off the same bowler.

Collingwood was the one batsman to master the South African attack, scoring 86 off 82 balls before he was caught at deep mid-on off Parnell.

Parnell, who claimed a career-best five for 48, and Morkel (three for 39) wrapped up the tail as England were all out for 242 in the 42nd over.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA

H.M. Amla c Prior b Broad 86

G.C. Smith b Wright 54

A.B. de Villiers c Trott b Broad 121

J.P. Duminy c Morgan b Wright 6

A.N. Petersen not out 51

M.V. Boucher c Wright b Broad 22

R. McLaren b Broad 0

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, W-8) 14

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 354

FALL OF WKTS 1-107, 2-201, 3-217, 4-312, 5-349, 6-354.

DID NOT BAT R.E. van der Merwe, W.D. Parnell, M. Morkel, D.W. Steyn.

BOWLING Anderson 7-0-55-0 (1w); Broad 10-0-71-4 (1w); Bresnan 10-0-61-0 (1w); Swann 9-0-49-0; Collingwood 5-0-38-0 (1w); Wright 8-0-66-2; Trott 1-0-8-0

ENGLAND

A.J. Strauss c Boucher b Morkel 24

L.J. Wright c McLaren b Parnell 24

I.J.L. Trott c Smith b Parnell 9

K.P. Pietersen b Duminy 45

P.D. Collingwood c Amla b Parnell 86

E.J.G. Morgan c sub b Duminy 0

M.J. Prior c Smith b Morkel 16

T.T. Bresnan c Smith b Morkel 7

S.C.J. Broad b Parnell 10

G.P. Swann not out 6

J.M. Anderson lbw b Parnell 1

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-10) 14

TOTAL (all out, 41.3 overs) 242

FALL OF WKTS 1-41, 2-58, 3-58, 4-142, 5-150, 6-214, 7-223, 8-227, 9-236.

BOWLING Steyn 6-0-42-0; Parnell 9.3-0-48-5 (1w); Morkel 9-1-39-3 (2w); McLaren 5-0-34-0; van der Merwe 6-0-50-0 (2w); Duminy 6-0-25-2 (1w).

RESULT South Africa won by 112 runs.

UMPIRES M. Erasmus (South Africa) and R.J. Tucker (Australia).

TV UMPIRE B.G. Jerling (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE J. Srinath (India).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH A.B. de Villiers.—Reuters