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South Africa inspired by Kirsten's 116

South Africa (276-3) beat England (272-8) by 7 wickets

On a perfect pitch, on a spectacular day and in front of the vibrant, capacity Centurion Park crowd, South Africa confirmed their recent supremacy over England with a powerful seven-wicket win that gave them a 3-1 advantage in the seven-match series.

Two South Africans played distinguished innings and one of them, Gary Kirsten, gave an object lesson to the England top order in how to finish a job that you have started.

The South Africans have set themselves high standards with spe- cial regard to disciplining their natural skills and maximising their fitness, and the ultimate goal, the lifting of the World Cup in Lahore in March, is a real possibility if they continue to play as they did yesterday.

The highlight of their team effort is brilliant fielding, with Jonty Rhodes consistently breathtaking, though Hansie Cronje and Jacques Kallis are not far behind, and the work they do for each other, work that is difficult to imagine any team improving upon, lifts the hearts of their bowlers on withering days such as yes- terday when the bat so absolutely dominates.

England never looked as if they would protect their formidable score, and their fielders, acceptable enough, could not match the athleticism and fast arms of their opponents.

Granted, England experimented with selection, though not as extensively as on Saturday when the faster and ever so slightly damp Johannesburg pitch caught them off guard, but they have a party of cricketers well practised in the limited overs business and must quickly settle on their likely combination for the World Cup and return to the habit of winning. All in all, if you are an Englishman, it was not much of a weekend.

For this match South Africa substituted Gary Kirsten and Pat Sym- cox for Richard Snell and Brian McMillan, and Michael Atherton gave himself a break, insisted that Richard Illingworth have his first bowl since Christmas and recalled Dominic Cork in place of Dermot Reeve.

Alec Stewart began well, calling correctly and choosing to bat, and there was a nice confident air to him when he took guard with Robin Smith as his partner. Smith knew that a great deal was rid- ing on his innings and both he and Stewart were hell-bent on en- suring that the chairman was made to rethink his words of last weekend when he suggested that their end was nigh.

Donald, shell-shocked after three overs for 30, was whipped out of the attack and replaced by the captain

The opening salvos then had plenty a hidden sub-plot and two of England's most thrilling batsmen responded exactly as they ought, taking their frustration out on the opposition, who had little answer to the commanding strokeplay.

Donald, shell-shocked after three overs for 30, was whipped out of the attack and replaced by the captain himself, who made in- telligent use of his slower ball and, if nothing else, at least held things back to a semblance of control. The last 40 of Stewart's fifty came in 23 balls and he seemed for all the world unstoppable until his adrenalin got the better of him and he swatted to square leg.

Enter Graeme Hick, who was in swashbuckling spirit, and who struck out massively with sixes over midwicket from Cronje and Symcox before disappointing himself with a wild slog when he was on for something far more substantial.

Then, quite unexpectedly, the tempo of the match changed. Graham Thorpe squirted to backward point, Smith drove hard and low to mid-off and South Africa, sensing the switch in the balance of power, closed in. Craig Matthews and Shaun Pollock returned and Mark Ramprakash and Craig White were suffocated by accuracy.

From the 30th to the 40th over of the innings, England managed just 34 runs: their moment had gone and South Africa knew it. Had it not been for a sparkling cameo from Jack Russell - 39 in 19 balls - whose clear head and smart placement are emerging as in- valuable, England may well have blown their good start altogeth- er.

Not that it mattered, so well did South Africa bat. Gary Kirsten is respected by his opponents, who know him to be a gritty com- petitor and an efficient dispatcher of poor bowling. His hun- dred came from only 106 balls and was full of square and straight drives and clinical leg-side play that rarely failed to find its gap. He even got after Hick and Illingworth.

The ordinariness of the one-paced seamers and a spinner who does not spin were alarming reminders of English limitations

For nearly two hours his partnership with Andrew Hudson, which put on a record 156 for the first wicket against England in just 28 overs, was full of sublime striking and effervescent running between the wickets.

Hudson made his case convincingly, pulling deliveries that were barely short with devastating certainty and driving at the top of the bounce.

It all seemed so easy as the England attack toiled and only Dar- ren Gough, looking fresh and returning to some form, gave cause for hope. Even Cork, the pulse of the team, was worn out.

The ordinariness of the one-paced seamers and a spinner who does not spin were alarming reminders of English limitations. Even Cronje, whose touch has been woeful, came to the party whacking hugely over deep midwicket and grinning with the fun of it all.

South Africa romped home with two overs to spare and Raymond Illingworth said he would be talking with his bowlers on the mor- row.

He would do well to applaud Stewart and Smith for the quality of their play and at the same time speak with a forked tongue about experienced batsmen who gave their wickets away when the enemy were at their mercy.

If England are to progress they must close ranks, knuckle down and have recourse to the basics. It has been a long tour but, in its way, it is only just beginning.