Related Links : 3rd ODI Scorecard | South Africa in England 2008
England sealed the ongoing Natwest Series 3-0 with a huge 126-run win at The Brit Oval. The Proteas were on the backfoot ever since Graeme Smith was ruled out of the series because of an elbow injury. The match was set up in England’s favour through strokeful half centuries from Ian Bell and Andrew Flintoff that gave a difficult target of 297. The South Africans showed no fight at all in their chase and this time round folded to the left arm spin of Samit Patel.
The South Africans led by Jacques Kallis had won the toss and elected to field first. They were under immense pressure once openers Ian Bell and Matt Prior went onto put on a century stand at more than run-a-ball. Prior made 33 from 37 balls with 5 fours and a six while his partner Bell went onto make 73 from 77 with 11 fours and a six. Although England lost their Skipper Pietersen cheaply for 5, they went onto make nearly 300 with Freddie Flintoff firing with 78 from 77 with 9 fours and a six. Samit Patel did his bit too with his 33-ball 31.
The Proteas were never in control of their chase thanks to a superb opening spell from Jimmy Anderson. The swing bowler gave only 17 runs in his 7 overs besides taking the wicket of Gibbs. Apart from Hashim Amla, none of the South African batsmen could get anything significant. Amla opened the batting in the absence of Graeme Smith to top score with 46 from 59 balls with 6 fours. Samit Patel enjoyed a good time with the ball as the batsmen tried to go after him only to give him 5 wickets. Patel also bowled two maidens and gave away just the 41 runs in his 9.4 overs to end up as the Man of the Match. Flintoff took a couple of wickets including that of the South African Skipper Jacques Kallis. The Proteas were bundled out in 42.4 overs for 170.