Broad smiles in England victory

Cricket : Stuart Broad delivered the best performance of his international career to humiliate South Africa and secure a comprehensive…

Cricket: Stuart Broad delivered the best performance of his international career to humiliate South Africa and secure a comprehensive victory for England in the second match of the one-day international NatWest Series.

Having grown up playing on the outfield at Trent Bridge as a child while father Chris played for Nottinghamshire 20 years ago, Broad returned to make his own mark at the ground with a devastating display of seam bowling.

Broad, who switched from Leicestershire to Nottinghamshire last winter, claimed five for 23 in a 10-over new-ball spell to help dismiss South Africa for a lowly 83 as England secured an emphatic 10-wicket victory by 5.35pm in a match billed as a day-night international.

Those figures were the best of his own career, the fifth best by an England player and completely humiliated South Africa - briefly rated as the best side in the world earlier this year - by dismissing them for the second lowest total in their history.

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His performance capped another impressive display by an England side galvanised by the appointment of Kevin Pietersen as captain, who is yet to taste defeat since his unveiling.

Stunned by their 20-run defeat in Leeds, which followed nine successive ODI victories, South Africa reacted by recalling big-hitting all-rounder Albie Morkel to their line-up ahead of schedule after a shoulder injury.

Morkel's return at the expense of Vernon Philander was designed to give South Africa impetus to their middle order, which they lacked during their run chase in the series opener.

But by the time Morkel arrived at the crease the match was effectively over with South Africa reeling on 50 for six despite winning the toss and deciding to bat first on a fast and bouncy pitch.

Their challenge was undermined from the start with Broad given the new ball from the Pavilion End and responding by dismissing South Africa's leading three batsmen inside his first four overs to set the tone for the remainder of the innings.

Aggressive opener Herschelle Gibbs became Broad's first victim after advancing down the pitch and getting an inside edge behind to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

That was the first of a record-equalling haul of six catches by Prior, who matched the achievement of former England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart against Zimbabwe at Old Trafford in 2000, as South Africa's top order struggled to cope with the swing and extra bounce provided by England's seamers.

Five of Prior's catches were regulation, but he earned his share of the record for his role in Broad's second victim with a full-length delivery which surprised Graeme Smith with the bounce and was brilliantly taken one-handed diving to his left in front of first slip.

Jacques Kallis fell soon after when he was tempted into a drive off the front foot and edged to Owais Shah at first slip and by the time JP Duminy gave another catch to Prior, Broad had claimed four wickets in 16 balls.

Sensing an emphatic triumph, Pietersen went for the kill and brought all-rounder Andrew Flintoff into the attack, who accelerated South Africa's demise by winning an lbw appeal against AB de Villiers with a ball which jagged back into his pads.

Flintoff's hostility also accounted for Mark Boucher, who became the latest South African to edge behind, while Broad followed up by claiming his final wicket in his last over.

Steve Harmison replaced him from the Pavilion End and quickly wrapped up the tail with two wickets in his only over to leave England facing a modest target.

Propelled by Prior's aggressive approach they raced to their target in just 14.1 overs with England's wicketkeeper accelerating to an unbeaten 45 off only 36 balls, including six fours and a six.

He completed the triumph with a pull for four off Andre Nel to complete only England's third 10-wicket victory in 495 one-day international matches to put them firmly in control of the five-match series.

By contrast, the tourists head for London to prepare for Friday's third match at The Oval knowing they need a quick reversal of fortunes and performance if their historic Test series triumph is not to be overshadowed by a dismal end to their tour.

PA