England wins a SA series after 40 years

The England team holds the Basil D'Oliveira trophy after England's 2-1 Test series victory over South Africa at Centurion, South Africa, on Tuesday. PHOTO: EPA

England sealed their first Test series victory in South Africa for 40 years when the fifth and final match ended in a draw on Tuesday.

The touring side, set a target of 185 in 44 overs, recovered from 20 for three to reach 73 for four when bad light ended play 16 balls early. England captain Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on 26 at the close with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff on 14.

"It has been a fantastic series, full of ups and downs and I am just delighted to come away with a victory," Vaughan told Sky Sports after leading his team to their fourth successive series victory.

"South Africa are a very hard team to beat, especially here, and these guys have put in a hell of a lot of hard work," Vaughan added.

The last victorious England side in South Africa was in 1964-1965, when MJK Smith captained his team to a 1-0 victory in a five-match series.

England lost their first wicket without a run on the board when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini had man-of-the-series Andrew Strauss caught by Jacques Kallis at second slip with the eighth ball of the innings.

South Africa's Makhaya Ntini celebrates bowling out England's Andrew Strauss for 0 on the fifth and final day of the final Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion. PHOTO: AFP

Robert Key was trapped in front for nine by fast bowler Shaun Pollock, and three overs later Ntini struck again when he bowled Mar-cus Trescothick with an angled delivery that seamed back to hit the left-hander's off stump.

Vaughan and Flintoff survived without further alarm, however, guiding their side to a position of safety when the umpires offered them the chance to leave the field because of bad light.

Earlier, AB de Villiers scored 109 and Kallis an undefeated 136, sharing a third-wicket partnership of 227 in South Africa's second-innings total of 296 for six declared.

England fans cheer as their side claims a Test series victory on the final day of the fifth Test between England and South Africa in Centurion, north of Johannesburg. PHOTO: EPA

Kallis batted for 277 minutes, faced 217 balls and hit 16 fours and a six as he became the 25th player to score 20 Test centuries.

De Villiers was at the crease for 276 minutes, facing 169 balls and hitting 11 fours and a six in his maiden Test century.

After the hosts had resumed on 59 for two, De Villiers and Kallis hardly put a foot wrong in scoring 153 runs in the morning session.

England attacked to no avail before reverting to more defensive fields.

De Villiers and Kallis were separated 11 overs after lunch when the former attempted an on-drive to a ball from fast bowler Simon Jones and edged a catch to Matthew Hoggard at third man.

Graeme Smith scored just three before sending a ball from fast bowler Steve Harmison looping to substitute fielder Paul Collingwood at backward point.

Jacques Rudolph was bowled by Harmison and the declaration came after Mark Boucher tried to force a delivery from fast bowler Hoggard through the on-side and was caught by Trescothick at midwicket for six.

England became only the second team after Australia to win a Test series in South Africa since 1992.

Never enough

England assistant coach Matthew Maynard on Wednesday defended the large number of players in the squad for the seven one-day internationals against South Africa.

"There's the odd niggle [injury] and it was a very tough Test series, so we wanted as many players as possible," Maynard said of the 17-man squad.

"You can never have enough bowlers and one-day cricket is all about who bowls best, so they will all come in handy."

Test bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones have both been added to the one-day squad and will compete with fellow seamers Alex Wharf, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Kabir Ali and Darren Gough for places in the side.

"Matthew Hoggard was the bowler who the South Africans altered their batting line-up to protect their captain [Graeme Smith] from, so we thought it would be a good idea to add him," Maynard said.

South African-born all-rounder Kevin Pietersen was also added to the squad, two weeks ago, and will be looking to fill the gap caused by Andrew Flintoff's return home for ankle surgery.

"Kevin Pietersen slotted in very well at number five in Zimbabwe and showed lots of promise," Maynard said of England's previous tour, in November.

The former England batsman added they would be looking to Paul Collingwood, Pietersen, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick to share a 10-over ration in Flintoff's absence.

England began the limited-overs part of the tour with a day-night match against South Africa A in Kimberley, 500km south-west of Johannesburg yesterday.

The first of the seven one-dayers with the full South African side is on Sunday.

Bacher back

Adam Bacher returned to one-day international cricket after a gap of seven years when the South African squad to play England was named on Tuesday.

Bacher, 31, played the last of his eight one-day internationals against Australia in Sydney in 1997-1998.

"I don't think my role will be at the top of the order, but after 10 years as an opener that excites me enormously," said Bacher, nephew of ex-South African cricket board chief Ali Bacher.

"I genuinely think I have something to offer the team with both bat and ball."

Batsman and useful medium pacer, Bacher is one of six additions to the squad that played in the 2004 Champions Trophy in England.

All rounders Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, batsman Ashwell Prince and fast bowler Andre Nel have all been recalled. Wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers also makes the squad.

Batsmen Martin van Jaarsveld and JP Duminy, all-rounders Lance Klusener and Alan Dawson and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson are the casualties from the Champions Trophy squad.

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe

Opener Rajin Saleh top-scored with 77 and spinner Manjural Islam Rana took four for 34 as Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 40 runs in the third one-day international on Wednes-day.

Chasing a target of 245 to win, Zimbabwe started firmly but were all out for 204 in 47.5 overs. Bangladesh, batting first, scored 244 for nine in their 50 overs.

Bangladesh's victory enabled them to narrow Zimbabwe's lead to 2-1 in the five-match series.

"We won the match which was very important for us. I am hopeful about winning the series, but for that we have to improve a lot in the last two matches," Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar said.

Barney Rogers top-scored with 51 for Zimbabwe before he was trapped leg before by spinner Khaled Mahmud. Rogers faced 81 balls and hit four fours.

Captain Tatenda Taibu came in at a crucial time with the score 93-4 and temporarily revived Zimbabwe by hitting 46, including two boundaries, before being removed by Mashrafe Mortaza.

"Loss of wickets in the middle period and at the same time not scoring enough runs in the middle period killed us," Taibu said.