ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA 1994

At Birmingham, August 25. England won by six wickets. Toss: South Africa.

South Africa were unable to rouse themselves from the depression caused by their Test defeat and England won in a workmanlike fashion that was uninspiring for the crowd but encouraging for the selectors, who announced before the start that Atherton would lead the team to Australia. England had brought in several one-day specialists; Malcolmand Fraser were also in the squad but did not play in either game. The reshaped team had the same spring in its stride as at The Oval and fielded particularly well to back up solid performances from all the bowlers.

South Africa's 215 was never enough on a perfectly sound pitch. The openers gave England a safe start, and Hick, maintaining the assurance of his recent Test performances, settled the game with 81 off 116 balls, driving well and pulling one huge six off Cronje. South Africa's best moment came when Jonty Rhodes, with one of his almost inhumanly elastic stop-and-throw movements at backward point, ran out Atherton.

Man of the Match: G. A. Hick. Attendance: 18,400; receipts £438,000.