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England whip South Africa

Skipper Nasser Hussain shared a record opening stand with Nick Knight as England trounced South Africa by nine wickets in the Standard Bank triangular limited overs series at Springbok Park on Sunday.

Fast bowler Darren Gough set up the victory by taking four for 29 as South Africa were bowled out for 184 on a good batting pitch. Then the right-handed Hussain and his left-handed partner Knight put on 165 for the first wicket before England wrapped up the win with 10.3 overs to spare.

It was the highest opening stand registered against South Africa. England were on course for the first ten-wicket win in their history before Hussain hit a tame catch to cover off leftarm spinner Nicky Boje. Hussain made a superb 85 off 114 balls with 12 fours.

Knight, who joined the the tour for the limited overs games after not being selected for the Test series which South Africa won 2-1, stayed unbeaten on 71 as England completed a highly impressive win against one of the worlds leading one-day sides.

Gough took three wickets in his opening spell as South Africa collapsed to 23 for four after winning the toss. He received good support from Andrew Caddick and Mark Ealham, who conceded only 23 and 22 runs respectively off their ten over spells.

Jacques Kallis made a patient 57 off 105 balls but new cap Pieter Strydom (34) was the only other batsman to reach 30.

Big-hitting Lance Klusener was unusually subdued and made 27 off 43 balls before being caught at long-on off offspinner Graeme Hick.

Hussain and Knight started cautiously against Shaun Pollock and David Terbrugge, scoring only 12 off the first eight overs. But Hussain then hit Terbrugge over cover for four and the scoring rate accelerated rapidly.