Superb De Villiers helps South Africa to 112-run win

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – AB de Villiers lashed a  sensational century as South Africa beat England by 112 runs in  the third one-day international at Newlands  yesterday to level  the series at 1-1.

De Villiers showed skill and superb control as he reached a  hundred in just 75 balls —the second fastest by a South African  — and ended with 121 off 85 deliveries as the home side smashed  354 for six, their highest score against England and equalling  their best at Newlands.

South Africa’s previous highest total against England was  311 for seven in East London in 2004/5. The fastest one-day  century for South Africa is in 44 balls by Mark Boucher against  Zimbabwe in 2006.

South Africa won the toss and openers Graeme Smith and  Hashim Amla ensured they made a flying start with a stand of 107  off 111 balls.

Captain Smith was bowled by Luke Wright for 54 off 56  deliveries, while Amla batted with application and wristy  elegance through to the 32nd over when he edged Stuart Broad to  wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 86.

De Villiers reached his century in the 44th over and went on  to make the highest score by a South African against England,  beating the 118 Herschelle Gibbs made in Durban in 2005.

The 25-year-old shared in stands of 94 with Amla and 95 with  Alviro Petersen (51 not out) as South Africa made full use of  the powerplay overs.

Broad claimed four wickets for England, but was punished for  71 runs in his 10 overs.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Luke Wright played some  breathtaking strokes as they raced to 41 in 5.3 overs, but  returning fast bowlers Wayne Parnell and Morne Morkel then  reduced the visitors to 58 for three.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood shared a gritty 84-run  partnership until part-time off-spinner JP Duminy removed  Pietersen, sweeping a ball back on to his stumps, for 45.

Then Eoin Morgan went for a duck when 12th man Johan Botha  sprinted in from the long-off boundary and caught him low to the  ground off the same bowler.

Collingwood was the one batsman to master the South African  attack, scoring 86 off 82 balls before he was caught at deep  mid-on off by Parnell.

Parnell, who claimed a career-best five for 48, and Morkel  (three for 39) wrapped up the tail as England were all out for  242 in the 42nd over.

South Africa next play England in Port Elizabeth on Sunday  and the final match is in Durban on Dec. 4. The first game of  the five-match series was washed out.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa beat England by 112 runs to level the  five-match one-day international series 1-1 after three matches.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
South Africa innings

H. Amla c Prior b Broad                                                   86
G. Smith b Wright                                                                54
A. de Villiers c Trott b Broad                                       121
J-P. Duminy c Morgan b Wright                                      6
A. Petersen not out                                                             51
M. Boucher c Wright b Broad                                         22
R. McLaren b Broad                                                             0
Extras (b-2, lb-4, w-8)                                                       14
Total (for six wickets, 50 overs)                                354
Fall of wickets: 1-107, 2-201, 3-217, 4-312, 5-349,  6-354.
Did not bat: R. van der Merwe, M. Morkel, W. Parnell, D.  Steyn.
Bowling: Anderson 7-0-55-0 (1), Broad 10-0-71-4 (w-1),  Bresnan 10-0-61-0(w-1), Swann 9-0-49-0, Collingwood 5-0-38-0  (w-1), Wright 8-0-66-2, Trott 1-0-8-0.

England innings
A. Strauss c Boucher b Morkel                                     24
L. Wright c McLaren b Parnell                                     24
J. Trott c Smith b Parnell                                                 9
K. Pietersen b Duminy                                                     45
P. Collingwood c Amla b Parnell                                 86
E. Morgan c sub (Botha) b Duminy                              0
M. Prior c Smith b Morkel                                             16
T. Bresnan c Smith b Morkel                                          7
S. Broad b Parnell                                                             10
G. Swann not out                                                                 6
J. Anderson lbw b Parnell                                               1
Extras (lb-4, w-10)                                                          14
Total (all out, 41.3 overs)                                          242
Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-58, 3-58, 4-142, 5-150, 6-214,  7-223, 8-227, 9-236, 10-242.
Bowling: Steyn 6-0-42-0, Parnell 9.3-1-48-5 (w-1),  Morkel 9-1-39-3 (w-2), McLaren 5-0-34-0, Van der Merwe 6-0-50-0  (w-2), Duminy 6-0-25-2 (w-1).
First ODI – Match abandoned without a ball bowled
Second ODI – England beat South Africa by seven wickets
Third ODI – South Africa beat England by 112 runs
Fourth ODI – Port Elizabeth, Nov. 29
Fifth ODI – Durban, Dec. 4