Wickets make England's task harder

England twice lost wickets in clusters to make an unlikely one-day international chase of 354 for six still more difficult at Newlands.

Responding under lights to a ground record-equalling total, the tourists began promisingly after Luke Wright had been promoted to open the batting alongside Andrew Strauss.

But having seen AB de Villiers (121) dominate a home innings which included three other half-centuries, England lost their openers for 24 each - then Jonathan Trott more cheaply as three went for only 17. Then after a fourth-wicket stand of 84 with Paul Collingwood (53no), Kevin Pietersen went - swiftly followed by Eoin Morgan for a duck - in 176 for five after 30 overs.

Wright plundered early boundaries - including a six over long-on off Dale Steyn - only to get a pull at Wayne Parnell high on the bat to be caught at deep square-leg.

Strauss then edged behind some full-length swing from first change Morne Morkel - and on what used to be his home ground, Trott followed in the next over without addition.

After making 87 as a replacement opener in England's seven-wicket win at Centurion last weekend, he could manage only nine before edging an attempted drive at Parnell to be very well caught by Graeme Smith - diving to his left at slip.

At a venue which dramatically favours the team batting first in day-night fixtures, England's prospects of pushing South Africa close were not obvious - in pursuit of a win which would put them in an unbeatable 2-0 lead in this series.

De Villiers had earlier struck a memorable fourth ODI hundred to help his team equal the highest total here.

Openers Hashim Amla (86) and Smith (54) provided the platform - but it was De Villiers who was the enforcer with some increasingly inventive strokeplay.