Bell tolls as the Proteas lose again

Ian Bell made 88 as England beat South Africa by six wickets in the fourth one-day international at Lord's yesterday to go 2-1 up in the series with one match to play.

Bell's innings was the cornerstone of England's 224/4 as they won with 20 balls to spare after good work by their bowlers restricted South Africa to 220/8.

Together wi th Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott (48), Bell shared a second-wicket stand of 141 after England lost captain Alastair Cook in the first over of their innings when he was lbw to a superb late inswinger from fast bowler Dale Steyn.

However, the Proteas - without rested paceman Morne Morkel - couldn't make further early inroads despite Steyn hitting Trott on the finger.

Trott's innings ended when he was lbw on the sweep to Dean Elgar after South Africa reviewed Australian umpire Simon Taufel's original not out decision.

After Ravi Bopara fell cheaply following a brief rain break, Bell tried to slap a short ball from Steyn on the offside and was caught by leaping South Africa captain and wicket-keeper AB de Villiers to end a 137-ball innings featuring a six and eight fours.

England still needed a further 35 runs for victory but the innings ended in a blizzard of boundaries, with left-hander Eoin Morgan a run-a-ball 36 not out and Craig Kieswetter, who ended the match with a superb off-driven six off Steyn, unbeaten on 21.

Earlier, James Tredwell atoned for dropping two catches with 3/35 in eight overs, with all his wickets stumpings completed by Kieswetter - the first England wicket-keeper to have three stumpings in a one-day international.

Tredwell had dropped openers Hashim Amla, on four, and Graeme Smith, on 26, both off fast bowler Steven Finn.

Dropped catches had helped Amla become the first South African to a Test triple century, at The Oval last month, and make 150 in an 80-run win in the second one-dayer in Southampton.

As it was, missing Amla on Sunday 'only' cost England 41 runs when he was bowled by Bopara for an innings top score of 45.

Amla's exit was the start of a South Africa collapse from 100/1 to 115/4.