England dig in to squeeze past South Africa by six runs

Captain Andrew Strauss needed no reminding, after his team had defended a below-par total of 171 all out to scramble a much-needed six-run success, that relief as much as satisfaction was the order of the day for England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Only painstaking half-centuries from man-of-the-match Ravi Bopara (60) and Jonathan Trott (52) gave England a worthwhile total on an awkward pitch, which took spin from the outset and provided for reverse-swing too.

They still appeared set for defeat, against Group B's previously unbeaten early front-runners who put on 63 for the first wicket and reached 124 for three. But England dug in with some tigerish fielding and expert bowling to exploit the conditions as their opponents lost seven wickets for 41 and Stuart Broad finished with four for 15.

Instead, therefore, of contemplating a week of anxiety in Chittagong before Friday's match against Bangladesh, England can once again consider themselves favourites to progress to the quarter-finals despite that shock defeat against Ireland four days ago.

"It was a huge game for us, because after the Ireland game we needed to show some character," said Strauss. "The guys dug very deep in the field - and I was delighted for the bowlers, who have been under the pump.

"We had to get on a roll and put them in a situation where there was pressure on and things happening with the pitch. It is tough for the tail to come in when the ball is spinning and doing things, because they are not as well qualified to deal with it."

The same held true for England's batsmen, their final six wickets falling for 37 - after the first three, including Strauss', had gone for 15.

"It wasn't one of our best wins ever because we batted poorly really," he added. "To lose three wickets early on a pitch like that was criminal really. Thankfully Trott and Ravi got us back in the hunt."

Even then, the hard work was still to be done. "You're not going to defend 170-odd very often, so you need things to go your way," said the captain, who had praise for off-spinner Graeme Swann and pace spearhead James Anderson as well as Broad.

"Swanny bowled exceptionally well, while Jimmy Anderson and Broady made crucial breakthroughs at the right time when the ball was reversing.

"We've been involved in three very tight games so far in this World Cup, and we're doing our bit to advertise the 50-over format. But we'd like them to be less close than they are."

The match was careering away from England until they won a DRS verdict for caught-behind off Swann against South Africa captain Graeme Smith to break the opening stand.Bopara, brought back into the side at the expense of Paul Collingwood, responded by equalling his career-best at this level. "I'm very pleased with the result - but the man of the match should have gone to Stuart Broad," he said.

"I know he didn't bowl his full quota of ten overs, but when he did bowl he was a massive difference and made it count."

With two wins on the board already, South Africa should still progress to the last eight with ease, but captain Graeme Smith noted: "It's obviously disappointing not to get over the line. I felt we had enough to do it at 120 for three."

ENGLAND

AJ Strauss c De Villiers b Peterson....................................0

KP Pietersen c Kallis b Peterson.........................................2

IJL Trott c&b Imran Tahir.....................................................52

IR Bell c&b Peterson................................................................5

RS Bopara lbw b Morkel......................................................60

MJ Prior c van Wyk b Morkel..............................................10

MH Yardy c Peterson b Imran Tahir....................................3

TT Bresnan lbw b Steyn..........................................................1

GP Swann c Duminy b Imran Tahir.....................................16

SCJ Broad lbw b Imran Tahir................................................0

JM Anderson not out..............................................................2

Extras (b1 lb7 w12).................................................................20

Total (all out; 45.4 overs)..................................171

Fall: 1-1, 2-3, 3-15, 4-114, 5-134, 6-148, 7-149, 8-161, 9-161.

Bowling: Peterson 8-2-22-3; Steyn 9-0-37-1; Morkel 7-0-16-2; Kallis 4-1-14-0; Imran 8.4-1-38-4; du Plessis 5-0-16-0; Duminy 4-0-20-0

SOUTH AFRICA

HM Amla b Broad...................................................................42

GC Smith c Prior b Swann...................................................22

JH Kallis c Prior b Broad......................................................15

AB de Villiers b Anderson...................................................25

F du Plessis run out (Bell/Prior).........................................17

JP Duminy b Anderson..........................................................0

MN van Wyk b Bresnan..........................................................13

RJ Peterson c Prior b Yardy.................................................3

DW Steyn lbw b Broad..........................................................20

M Morkel c Prior b Broad.......................................................1

Imran Tahir not out..................................................................1

Extras (lb2 w4).........................................................................6

Total (all out; 47.4overs)..................................165

Fall: 1-63, 2-75, 3-82, 4-124, 5-124, 6-124, 7-127, 8-160, 9-164

Bowling: Yardy 9-1-46-1; Anderson 6-0-16-2; Bresnan 8-1-27-1; Swann 10-2-29-1; Broad 6.4-0 15-4; Pietersen 8-0-30-0.

England won by 6 runs