England ties series on final day of final test in Oval thriller

England beat South Africa by nine wickets on the fifth day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval yesterday to square the series 2-2.

Marcus Trescothick was 69 not out and Mark Butcher 20 not out as England, needing 110 to square the series, finished on 110 for one in 23.2 overs.

Earlier pace bowlers Stephen Harmison (four for 33) and Martin Bicknell (four for 84) both recorded their best Test figures, with Bicknell taking two wickets in two balls Monday as South Africa were bowled out for 229.

But South Africa, looking for their first Test series win in England since 1965, then missed a chance when third slip Andrew Hall dropped Trescothick off fast bowler Makhaya Ntini when both he and England were on one.

South Africa, after resuming on 185 for six, lost their four remaining second innings wickets in 75 balls yesterday.

Surrey veteran Bicknell struck in the fourth over of the day when he had Mark Boucher caught behind by county team-mate and wicket-keeper Alec Stewart -- in his last Test before international retirement -- on the duo's home ground.

Boucher, who had added just three runs to his overnight 22, put on 43 with Shaun Pollock but at 193 for seven South Africa were just 73 runs ahead.

And next ball the Proteas the were 193 for eight when Andrew Hall lobbed the 34-year-old Bicknell legside to give Ed Smith at midwicket a simple catch.

South Africa were now just 73 runs ahead.

Paul Adams, who finished 13 not out, survived the hat-trick ball with a solid forward defensive shot.

Pollock 19 not out when South Africa resumed, scored with a mixture of straight drives and steers over the slips.

But on 43, he guided fast bowler Harmison straight to Graham Thorpe at gully, leaving the visiting South Africa on 215 for nine.

Former captain Pollock faced 57 balls with seven fours.

Ntini (one) was last man out, becoming 24 year-old Harmison's fourth victim when his miscued hook was well caught left-handed handed by a diving Smith at short leg as a near capacity crowd roared its approval.

England were led on and off the field by 40-year-old former captain Stewart, their most capped player, now in his 133rd Test.