South Africa out after England loss
Sunday, 27 September 2009 22:32England beat hosts South Africa by 22 runs to knock the world's number one ranked side and tournament hosts out of the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan blazed half-centuries as England piled up 323 for eight, their highest ever total against South Africa.
South Africa, despite captain Graeme Smith's career-best 141, could only manage 301 for nine in reply.
Shah and Collingwood inflicted enormous destruction on a home attack that could not stick to a length as they plundered 163 runs off 162 balls in a record third-wicket stand for England against South Africa.
Shah went over the boundary six times in his 98 off 89 balls, while Collingwood showed wonderful placement and composure in cruising to 82 off 94 deliveries.
Morgan finished the innings in style as he took advantage of woeful death bowling to wallop four fours and five sixes in his 67 off 34 balls.
Wayne Parnell, South Africa's youngest bowler, was their best, taking three for 60 in 10 overs.
South Africa were unable to compile a telling partnership despite Smith's fine innings and they went into the last 10 overs needing 94 runs to win with six wickets in hand.
Big-hitter Albie Morkel netted a six and a four off successive deliveries in his 17 off 14 balls, but, with debate raging as to whether England captain Andrew Strauss should allow a limping Smith a runner, Morkel ran himself out attempting a bye to stand-in wicketkeeper Morgan.
Strauss's decision to call on off-spinner Graeme Swann to bowl three overs in the closing stages paid off as he conceded just 10 runs and bowled the JP Duminy for 24.
James Anderson finished with three for 42 as South Africa slid to defeat and England, crushed 6-1 by Australia recently, reached the semi-finals.
AB de Villiers (36) and Herschelle Gibbs (22) made promising starts but failed to master the conditions or England's attack.
