Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen lifted their side with half-centuries, but South Africa’s anticipated batting onslaught failed to materialise as England’s varied seam attack restricted them to a manageable 250 for 9 in their 50 overs in the second ODI at Centurion. Even a hit-and-miss fielding performance with five clear-cut chances - three alone to the captain, Andrew Strauss - could not undermine the determination England showed in the field, with Strauss himself excelling as a strategist, in particular with his canny use of the medium-pacers, Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott.

The most fluent batsman for the Proteas was opener, Amla, who would not have been playing had Jacques Kallis not been ruled out of the series with a fractured rib. As it was, South Africa were very grateful for his calm demeanour and calculated strokeplay, as he picked off six fours, all of them through the off side, in a 72-ball 57.

Strauss won the toss and rightly bowled first, as Graeme Smith struggled to master the conditions. He picked off two fours from successive deliveries as James Anderson strayed onto his pads, but then, after a consultation between Strauss and England’s other new-ball bowler Tim Bresnan, a slip was installed, an off-stump line was settled upon and a cramped Smith edged a good-length delivery straight to the fielder.