Cricket/ One-day Internationals: England's batsmen got most attention at the Wanderers yesterday, but the rain-affected victory which put Michael Vaughan's team ahead in the series was manufactured by a new-look attack.

Boos rang around the 32,000 sell-out crowd when South African-born Kevin Pietersen walked to the middle to share an unbroken half-century stand with Vaughan, who was surprisingly named man-of-the-match for his unbeaten 44.

Yet it was the newly-assembled pace trio which shaped the contest after Vaughan won the toss for the opener in a best-of-seven campaign.

Veteran Darren Gough, the recalled Matthew Hoggard and youngster Kabir Ali each struck twice as the South Africans lost for the 12th time in 13 limited-overs internationals.

Although the home side recovered to an extent, the tourists were well on course for their victory target of 176 when the extreme wet weather arrived in mid-innings to confirm a 26-run winning margin by the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Hampshire's Pietersen, playing his first international in his homeland, barely laid a bat on his first handful of deliveries. He took 12 balls to get off the mark as the atmosphere inside the Johannesburg ground brewed in perfect synchronicity with the storm clouds above it.

From a precarious position of 44 for three, however, Pietersen - effectively Andrew Flintoff's replacement in the middle order - crunched two off-side boundaries off Nel and another couple off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.

"He was the first to admit he was nervous for his first four or five balls but he played shots which make you look on in awe from the other end," said Vaughan. "He is a special talent."

In Perth, Abdul Razzaq starred with ball and bat as Pakistan inflicted a first defeat of the one-day VB Series on Australia, thumping their way to a three-wicket win in an entertaining clash.

Australia had already reached the final with four victories in the triangular tournament but were unable to defend their total of 265 as Pakistan swept to an impressive victory with almost three overs to spare.

Pakistan and the West Indies will meet in the final group stage match tomorrow, with the winner going through to meet Australia in the best-of-three series.