LONDON: Ian Bell made 88 as England beat South Africa by six wickets in the fourth one-day international at Lord’s on Sunday to go 2-1 up with one game left.
Bell’s innings (which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award) was the cornerstone of England’s 224 for four as they won with 20 balls to spare.
Together with Jonathan Trott (48), Bell shared a second-wicket stand of 141 after England lost captain Alastair Cook in the first over of their innings when he was lbw to a superb late inswinger from =Dale Steyn.
However, the Proteas – without rested paceman Morne Morkel – couldn’t make further early inroads despite Steyn hitting Trott on the finger.
As the floodlights took full effect on a gloomy day where the overcast conditions had prompted Cook to field first, Bell cover-drove left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell for four and advanced down the pitch to flat bat him over cover-point for another boundary.
Earlier, James Tredwell atoned for dropping two catches with three wickets as England restricted South Africa to 220 for eight.
The off-spinner took three for 35, with all his stumpings completed by Kieswetter – the first England wicket-keeper to have three stumpings in an ODI. (AFP)
