Paul Collingwood hit an unbeaten hundred after taking two wickets to lead England to a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second one-day international on Sunday.

Collingwood took 2 for 24 from his six overs to help restrict South Africa to 250 for 9, then made 105 off 110 balls and put on 162 with Jonathan Trott, who hit 87, to help England reach 252 for 3 with four overs to spare at SuperSport Park. England now lead the five-match series 1-0 after Friday’s first game was washed out. The visitors also stretched their recent impressive ODI streak against South Africa to six wins in the last eight games, with two “no results” due to bad weather.

Collingwood, who became the most-capped Englishman in ODIs in his 171st match, scored all round the wicket with Trott. Their 30-over stand was finally broken when Trott flicked a delivery from Charl Langeveldt to Hashim Amla at deep square-leg in the 42nd over. Collingwood’s fifth ODI century was brought up by seventh four, driven straight off fast bowler Dale Steyn. He also hit two sixes in a 110-ball innings. Trott smashed eight boundaries in 119 balls.

Charl Langeveldt was the best South African bowler with 2 for 46, getting rid of Trott and Strauss (16). The only other South African bowler to get a wicket was seamer Albie Morkel, who bowled Kevin Pietersen for 4.

Earlier, Alviro Petersen top-scored with 64 from 65 balls and Hashim Amla made 57 from 72 deliveries for the hosts. England’s opening bowlers James Anderson (3/60) and Tim Bresnan (2/46) were among the wickets but it was the two starring England batsmen who dried up the runs. Collingwood’s two wickets took his tally to 99 and, after leg-spinner Adil Rashid went for 27 runs in three overs, Trott’s part-time medium-pacers in seven overs went for only 21 runs.

... contd.