South Africa trounce England by 108 runs

South Africa 291 for 5 (Gibbs 100, Kallis 71, Kemp 57) beat England 183 (Pietersen 75) by 108 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A solid century from Herschelle Gibbs lifted South Africa to 291 for 5 and into a 2-1 series lead as they defeated England by 108 runs in the fourth one-dayer at Newlands. On a belter of a pitch, Gibbs and Jacques Kallis posted a record third-wicket stand of 143, before Justin Kemp topped things off with 57 from just 36 balls. England then slumped to 35 for 3 in reply, and a lone stand of 75 from the inevitable Kevin Pietersen couldn't rescue them as South Africa completed a convincing allround performance to win at a canter.

In an unchanged South African side, Gibbs and Kallis came together on 50 for 2 after Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers had played well against the new ball. The third-wicket pairing played a patient game at first, before upping the tempo later on. Kallis fell for 71 attempting to do just that, as he chanced the golden arm of Paul Collingwood. But by this time South Africa were on 193 and, with seven wickets still remaining, the perfect platform for more fun had been set, and the in-form Gibbs was joined by the big-hitting Kemp.

Gibbs' century was his 14th in ODIs, and was well deserved. It was a mainly chanceless innings, although he survived one hairy moment as Darren Gough clung on to one which was sailing over his head - only for the momentum to carry him over the rope. But Gibbs stood firm, adding a host of sixes as he sailed to his century, until Collingwood took a comfortable catch on the cover boundary off Harmison's bowling to end his reign (227 for 4).

Kemp wasted no time, dancing down the track to launch Ashley Giles over long-on for six to announce his arrival. He added three more sixes, and four fours as he floored the accelerator to race along to 57, supported along the way by Ashwell Prince (14 not out). South Africa clubbed 98 runs for the loss of just two wickets in the last ten overs, as Kemp went on the offensive - clattering Kabir Ali for 20 from the final over of the innings - before Giles and Geraint Jones combined to run him out. But the job was already done.

England had picked up two early wickets to peg South Africa back after Michael Vaughan won the toss and sent them in. de Villiers had time to launch Harmison over midwicket for six, but Gough trapped him lbw in front of middle-and-leg for 9 before he had the chance to do further damage. South Africa were 18 for 1, which became 50 for 2 after Kabir sent down a straight one and pinned Smith plumb for 16.

Then came the onslaught, and South Africa took firm control at Cape Town after tabling the highest total in an ODI between the two sides. England could not respond to the mountainous task and, as they lost three wickets for three runs, the writing was on the wall, authored by Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock. The fiery Ntini was again on song, removing Geraint Jones and Marcus Trescothick, while Pollock (10-0-35-2) scalped Michael Vaughan for a duck as England lurched to 35 for 3.

Jones was the first to go, having rattled up 19 from 20 balls, as his flamboyant swing at Ntini's widish delivery sailed through to Mark Boucher (32 for 1). This started the rot. Vaughan fell next, his edge off Pollock rocketing to Kallis at first slip, and Trescothick departed soon after, for 13, as Ntini sent his middle and leg stumps flying. England were in deep trouble, and in need of a sturdy rescue act from Andrew Strauss and the form batsman, Pietersen.

But Strauss drove Andre Nel to Prince for 17 and Ian Bell made just 2 before edging thinly to Mark Boucher off the final ball of an expensive Jacques Kallis over. Kallis, having been taken to the cleaners by Pietersen with two fours and a six, mopped up as he dismissed Bell as England wobbled to 92 for 5. Pietersen set about engineering the run-chase, but his rampant innings came unstuck on 75. He launched Nicky Boje's left-arm spin for a four and two sixes, but next ball he fell hooking as de Villiers held on at deep midwicket.

Kabir was run out shortly afterwards, and then Ntini picked up his third victim as Giles chipped up to Pollock at cover. Giles' 20 was, tellingly, the second-highest score for England behind Pietersen's 75 - and there was no way back from 175 for 9. Boje applied the finishing touch, as Harmison spooned to Nel at long-off to end the first one-sided match of the series to date. There are now three matches left in a see-saw series, and England will head to East London on Wednesday to try to level the series.