The fourth one-day international at Newlands, Cape Town was significant as both teams looked to take a lead in the seven-match

Standard bank series that was tied at 1-1. But what was not expected was the manner in which England were trounced by a team that has grappled to convert winning positions into actual victories. South Africa put up their best performance yet in the series and recent one-day history to win by a whopping 108 runs. Michael Vaughan assumed charge at the helm, having recovered from a stomach bug. Vikram Solanki though was forced to make way despite an impressive sixty-six at Port Elizabeth. An exhausted Matthew Hoggard was rested as Steve Harmison played in the limited-overs series for the first time after nearly opting to return home with a calf injury and homesickness.

But England had to contend with some wayward bowling and a stronger batting performance from the South African top-order. AB de Villiers failed to carry on after a mighty six over mid-wicket after England won the toss and elected to field. Graeme Smith appeared fairly confident on sixteen until he found it far from bemusing to be declared lbw off Kabir Ali. South Africa appeared a touch wobbly at fifty for two. But England failed to make further inroads as the stalwarts Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, put up a spirited and record-breaking third-wicket partnership for the second time in the series.

England missed the precision of Hoggard, and Harmison proved rusty and costly from England's viewpoint. Gibbs and Kallis though proved the weight of their presence in the stabilizing South African line-up with a typical commanding performance.
 

Battling a poor run-rate, the duo consolidated and then generated momentum to take South Africa towards the 200 mark. But a sharp hit by Paul Collingwood at the stumps left Kallis stranded on seventy-one. Herschelle Gibbs soldiered on in scintillating fashion to raise his bat to signal his fourteenth century in one-day internationals, and his first against England, scored off only 114 balls. But when pressed to push on, he was caught by Ian Bell off Steve Harmison after sharing a thirty-four run partnership off just twenty-seven balls.
 

Not minding Gibbs's dismissal, Justin Kemp set the stadium on fire with four towering sixes. Not to be outdone, Ashwell Prince hit a mighty six to raise the fifty-run partnership off just twenty-eight balls. Kemp scored his maiden half-century off just thirty-four deliveries as fours and sixes rained in torrents. South Africa finished up on a high of 291 with Kabir Ali's last over going for twenty.

England started on a rollicking note, but Geraint Jones rashly nicked a wide delivery from Makhaya Ntini to Mark Boucher. England went from thirty-two for no loss to thirty-five for three. Vaughan's edge flew to Boucher off Pollock's bowling while Ntini sent Marcus Trescothick's stumps flying. Kevin Pieterson and Andrew Strauss attempted a brief resurrection before the latter was caught by Ashwell Prince off Andre Nel. Kevin Pieterson's seventy-five was the top scorer by a long way. Ashley Giles scored twenty to come in second place. England were tottering at ninety-two for five and they continued their stumble until they were all out for 183 in the forty-second over. South Africa registered a thumping victory by a huge margin of 108 runs. Makhaya Ntini dispelled all notions of a man struggling for confidence with three wickets for twenty-nine runs off his nine overs, while Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje chipped in with two wickets each.

The match is won - Graeme Smith (right) and Nicky Boje celebrate the victory.