Gibbs century as England thrashed
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) -- South Africa capitalised on a Herschelle Gibbs century to crush England by 108 runs in the fourth one-day international at Newlands on Sunday.
Gibbs scored 100 and put on 143 with Jacques Kallis (71) for the third wicket as South Africa made 291 for five, the highest score of the series, after being put in.
England, in reply, collapsed to 183 all out in 41.2 overs, Makhaya Ntini taking three wickets for 29 as the home side went 2-1 up in the seven-match series.
"This was probably the best team performance in one-day internationals under my captaincy," South Africa captain Graeme Smith told reporters.
"The last two matches have seen the whole team involved and it's nice to have a team where all the players contribute to winning the game."
It was Gibbs's 14th one-day hundred and included eight fours and three sixes. Big-hitting Justin Kemp then hammered 57 off 36 balls, including four sixes, as 98 came off the last 10 overs.
It was Gibbs's first hundred batting in the middle order. He was moved down from opener after the first match in the series and has scored 228 runs in three innings since.
"I'm enjoying myself at number four," said Gibbs, who was named man of the match. "I've played enough one dayers to know what is expected of a batsman in the middle order."
Kemp was particularly hard on seamer Kabir Ali as he smashed four sixes in the final three overs.
Ali's first seven overs cost 15 runs but he went for 43 runs in his last three, and 36 in the last two, for figures of one for 58. Steve Harmison's first five overs went for 44 but he fought back for one for 65.
England's reply started promisingly as openers Marcus Trescothick and Geraint Jones took the score to 30 without alarm after five overs.
But Jones's departure, caught behind by Mark Boucher off Ntini for 19, sparked a mini collapse as three wickets fell for three runs in 12 balls to make it 35 for three.
Captain Michael Vaughan (0) was caught at slip by Kallis off Shaun Pollock and Trescothick (13) was bowled by Ntini in the space of two overs.
Only Pietersen withstood the onslaught before holing out at deep square leg off spinner Nicky Boje after hitting the previous three deliveries of the over for four, six and six.
"You can blame a long schedule and a long series but we won't be trying to make that an excuse," said Vaughan.
"Thoughts of going home won't be taking over my thoughts I can assure you. We have a travel day tomorrow and prepare on Tuesday for Wednesday's match. It was a poor performance and we have to lift ourselves for the next one."
The fifth one-dayer, a day-nighter, is scheduled for Wednesday in East London.
