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Superb England crush Proteas

26/08/2008

Stuart Broad's maiden five-wicket haul led England to a ten-wicket demolition of South Africa to put the hosts 2-0 up in their five-match one-day international series.

The Nottinghamshire seamer, who retained his spot opening the bowling for England despite the presence of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, did most of the damage as the Proteas were skittled out for 83.

On his home ground of Trent Bridge, Broad took the wickets of both openers - Hershel Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith - dangerman Jacques Kallis, middle-order batsman JP Duminy and all-rounder Johan Botha as only three of tourists' lineup made double figures.

Even then, Gibbs (ten), Mark Boucher (ten) and Andre Nel (13) only barely scraped past the mark as the hosts took complete control from the start.

With the ball bouncing and swinging on a lively Trent Bridge pitch, England's pacemen took full advantage.

In addition to Broad's heroics, Flintoff helped himself to three wickets and Harmison took 2-4 in his solitary over.

Behind the stumps, Matt Prior took six catches - including one impressive diving effort to dismiss the opposition skipper – with Owais Shah also snaffling a chance at first slip that came quickly to him off the edge of Kallis' bat.

Once the fielding job had been completed with relative ease, England openers Prior (45 not out) and Ian Bell (28 not out) easily knocked off the runs required in a little more than 14 overs.

The result deals a major blow to South Africa's hopes of overtaking Australia at the top of the world rankings, as not even a 3-2 series victory will see them amass enough points to overhaul the baggy greens.