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