S Africa secure series

CAPE TOWN, Jan 5: South Africa celebrated a series-winning success when they beat England by an innings and 37 runs in the fourth Test with more than a day to spare at Newlands today, reports Reuters.

England, 163 behind on first innings, crumbled to 126 all out in their second innings just before the scheduled tea interval on the fourth day, giving South Africa a 2-0 winning lead in the five-Test rubber.

After resuming at four without loss overnight, England were reduced to 60 for three at lunch, then lost six wickets for 66 in the second session.

Andrew Flintoff, who fractured a foot while bowling, did not come out to bat at the fall of the ninth wicket.

Captain Nasser Hussain and former skipper Michael Atherton were at the centre of controversy as their side collapsed on what remained an essentially good pitch.

Hussain looked desperately unlucky to be out given leg before to Lance Klusener for 16 when the ball seemed to hit his bat rather than the pads.

Atherton was involved in a controversial incident when he appeared to have been caught at silly mid-off but stood his ground in the face of concerted appeals.

Atherton was given not out but angry words were exchanged between the opener and some of the fielding side.

However, Atherton did not last long after this incident. He was out in the fourth over after lunch for 35 when he edged a ball from paceman Shaun Pollock to first slip where Daryll Cullinan took the catch low and to his left.

Five overs later left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams smuggled a dipping full toss past Alec Stewart to bowl him for five and reduce England to 66 for five.

Chris Adams and Andy Caddick resisted with a sixth wicket stand of 39 before the pace bowler went for 14 when he cut a ball from Allan Donald to Herschelle Gibbs at point.

Adams followed, bowled by his wrist-spinning namesake for a defiant 31.

Darren Gough drove a Jacques Kallis delivery straight to Donald at cover, and the series was decided when Phil Tufnell edged Adams to Cullinan at slip.

The fifth and final Test at Centurion starts on January 14.

Result: South Africa won by an innings and 37 runs to take a winning 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

First Test: Johannesburg - South Africa won by an innings and 21 runs.

Second Test: Port Elizabeth - Match drawn.

Third Test: Durban - Match drawn.

Final Test: Centurion, Jan 14-18.