Eng plan ODI whitewash

2008-08-31 22:43

London - England are aiming at a 5-0 whitewash of South Africa in the final one-day international to be played in Cardiff on Wednesday. That would take England to second in the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings behind Australia.

England won the fourth ODI against the Proteas by seven wickets at Lord's on Sunday after Andrew Flintoff starred with bat and ball.

England, set a revised target of 137 to win off 20 overs after rain disrupted the South African innings of 183 for six in 32.1 overs, made it with 14 balls to spare with Kevin Pietersen scoring 40 and Owais Shah 44 not out.

Flintoff came in and smashed a rapid 31 off 12 deliveries to add to his three for 21 with the ball.

'Asked boys to do a job'

Pietersen was out with 44 still wanted, but he and Shah had upped the tempo of England's run chase by hitting a Jacques Kallis over for 20.

The England captain eventually holed out in the deep after hitting five fours and a six before Flintoff came in and took the game away from South Africa and give England a 4-0 lead in the series.

Pietersen said: "The re-calculation probably worked in our favour but we batted really well. But I asked the boys to do a job and they have done it. Winning becomes a habit and when you start winning game after game after game you learn how to win.

"Andrew is playing some of the best cricket of his career."

Acting captain Kallis said: "The dressing room is down - we pride ourselves on our results. There are, however, some positives to take out today (Sunday).

'Flintoff has been unbelievable'

"We're learning from our mistakes and we have some young players learning about international cricket.

"Flintoff has been unbelievable. He has proved he is a good player and he adds balance to the England side. He is a world class performer."

Herschelle Gibbs, 34 and no longer in the Test side, showed he remains a force in ODI cricket with his 36th one-day half century after South Africa were put in to bat in gloomy conditions by Pietersen.

The opener was eyeing a 21st one-day century when he was bowled off his pads by Stuart Broad having faced 75 balls and hit five fours for his 74.

Bowlers not firing on all cylinders

Gibbs and Hashim Amla put on 66 for the first wicket with Amla accelerating after the rain break when he tucked into Steve Harmison and took four fours of the quick bowler in one over.

At this stage the South Africans were going at more than six an over, but Amla's innings was cut short when he was run out by Owais Shah.

Pietersen's bowlers were not firing on all cylinders as they had at Trent Bridge when South Africa were bundled out for 83.

- AFP