Rain helps England to victory

England 103 for 3 (Vaughan 44*) beat South Africa 175 for 9 (Pollock 37, Giles 3-18) by 26 runs (D/L method) and lead the seven-match series 1-0
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

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England won the first of their seven one-day matches against South Africa by 26 runs, courtesy of the Duckworth/Lewis method. By the time the lashing rains washed away what remained of South Africa's slim hopes, England were in a commanding position at the Wanderers with 103 for 3, chasing a modest 176 for victory. In all likelihood they would have gone on to win comfortably, with the fourth-wicket pairing of Kevin Pietersen and Michael Vaughan still there after putting on 58.

But matters could have been even worse for South Africa, who recovered from a parlous 90 to 7 to reach 175 for 9 in their 50 overs. A rearguard stand of 58 for the eighth wicket between Nicky Boje and Shaun Pollock offered a glimmer of hope after a nightmare start had them reeling at 5 for 2.

South African wickets fell steadily as England's bowlers, admirably supported by some aggressive fielding, took firm control of the match. By the 35-over mark, South Africa were in deep trouble, crawling along at three an over, before the lower order dragged them back into the game.

The ageless Darren Gough was the pick of a tidy England attack, taking 2 for 27. He was the first to strike, too, removing Graeme Smith for 1, while Herschelle Gibbs fell to Matthew Hoggard for 2.

Smith was in scratchy form, taking ten balls to get off the mark, and surviving a close lbw shout, but then he edged a widish delivery to second slip, where Andrew Strauss clung on at the third attempt. Then 3 for 1 became 5 for 2 as Gibbs wafted a loose off-drive to Kevin Pietersen, who took a good catch above his head in the covers, a good example of England's dynamite enthusiasm in the field.

Adam Bacher made only a brief return to the limelight after a five-year absence, as he inelegantly slashed an offcutter onto his leg stump for 4 from 18 balls. Runs were hard to come by: Ashwell Prince eventually brought up the first boundary off the bat, in the 13th over, with a lucky inside edge off Kabir Ali that eluded the scrambling Geraint Jones. In the next over Prince clattered three successive fours off Hoggard in a rare moment of cheer for the home fans.

Ali, replacing the economical Gough (6-2-7-1), immediately struck gold, as he removed Jacques Kallis for 5, chasing a stray leg-side delivery which sneaked through to Jones. He added another victim, trapping Prince lbw for 22, as South Africa stumbled to 49 for 5.

Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp then clung together for a stand of 34, before Vaughan brought on Ashley Giles for the 30th over. Giles struck twice, removing first Kemp for 24 then Boucher for 17. Kemp undid all his good work by lobbing a soft catch to Ian Bell at short mid-on, then Boucher was bowled. At 90 for 7, South Africa were reeling, but, after a light shower, they came back refreshed as Boje and Pollock lifted them to 148.

Gough finally removed the dangerous Boje for 33, with a full delivery which swung away late from the left-hander (148 for 8). The experienced Pollock kept his head when all around him were losing theirs, striking the occasional boundary, while Makhaya Ntini continued his slap-happy approach of the Tests - he even sent Gough's last ball back over his head for a towering six.

Giles was brought back on for the last over, and picked up his third wicket, when Vaughan tumbled forward at gully to scoop an aerial edge from Pollock. But at least Pollock, who top-scored with 37, had given South Africa half a chance.

Michael Vaughan crashes a cover-drive for four on his way to an unbeaten 44 © Getty Images

Pollock continued with the ball, too, inducing an edge from Jones - opening for England for the first time - through to Boucher (21 for 2), after Ntini had removed Marcus Trescothick. Ntini, so often Trescothick's nemesis in the Test series, got his man again. Those feet were rooted to the crease as a prodded edge found Kallis at second slip, and England were 19 for 1.

But boundaries came thick and fast as England eased their way towards the target, with Andrew Strauss the only other victim before the heavens opened. He was in good touch, his faultless timing through the covers and midwicket again in evidence. But then, after he had made 15, he mistimed Andre Nel's second delivery, and the leaping Kemp at short midwicket clung on to a high catch. Nel also troubled Vaughan, forcing him to toe-poke a cracking Wayne Rooney-style volley over the stumps as the ball was heading for the woodwork.

Pietersen weathered a hostile reception from the crowd, and the odd word from the fielders. After a nervous start - he played and missed at his first ball, at Nel - he proved a worthy replacement for Strauss, as he and Vaughan moved seamlessly through the gears. Vaughan brought up their fifty partnership from 73 balls with a forceful cover-driven four, while Pietersen's thumping on-drive took England past 100.

England were well on course for a convincing victory when the rains came, and take a 1-0 lead into the second match, a day/nighter at Bloemfontein on Wednesday. South Africa may decide to include AB de Villiers - surprisingly omitted here - to bolster their batting as they try to halt a losing streak of 12 defeats in their last 13 matches. Their last one-day victory against a team other than Bangladesh came last February in New Zealand.