Bell tolls for South Africa as England win 4th ODI

Ian Bell made 88 as England beat South Africa by six wickets in the fourth one-day international at Lord's to go 2-1 up with one match to play in the series.

Bell's innings was the cornerstone of England's 224 for four as they won with 20 balls to spare after good work by their bowlers restricted South Africa to 220 for eight.

Together with Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott (48), Bell shared a second-wicket stand of 141 after England lost captain Alastair Cook in the first over of their innings when he was lbw to a superb late inswinger from fast bowler Dale Steyn.

However, the Proteas -- without rested paceman Morne Morkel -- couldn't make further early inroads despite Steyn hitting Trott, a former South Africa youth international, on the finger.

As the floodlights took full effect on a gloomy day where the overcast conditions had prompted Cook to field first, Bell cover-drove left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell for four and advanced down the pitch to flat bat him over cover-point for another boundary.

Bell later drove left-arm spinner Robin Peterson high over long-off for six.

He was reprieved though on 65 when dropped by Peterson at mid-on off Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Next ball Bell pulled the left-arm seamer for four.

Trott's patient innings ended when he was lbw on the sweep to slow left-armer Dean Elgar after South Africa reviewed Australian umpire Simon Taufel's original not out decision.

After Ravi Bopara fell cheaply following a brief rain break, Bell tried to slap a short ball from Steyn on the offside and was caught behind one-handed by leaping South Africa captain and wicket-keeper AB de Villiers to end a 137-ball innings featuring a six and eight fours.

England still needed a further 35 runs for victory but the innings ended in a blizzard of boundaries, with left-hander Eoin Morgan a run-a-ball 36 not out and Craig Kieswetter, who ended the match with a superb off-driven six off Steyn, unbeaten on 21.

... contd.

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