That's not my best - Anderson

James Anderson and Andrew Strauss spoke to the press after England's win

James Anderson returned career-best figures to propel England to a convincing seven-wicket win over South Africa in Port Elizabeth - before claiming he has bowled much better.

Anderson defied concerns over an ongoing knee injury to claim 5-23 - his maiden five-wicket haul in one-day internationals - as South Africa were hustled out for just 119 at St George’s Park.

Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood shared four wickets and Tim Bresnan claimed 1-15 off eight overs as England dominated with the ball after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.

Jonathan Trott hit an unbeaten 52 to carry England to their target with 18.4 overs to spare, giving England an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series with one match to play.

Although he was the only contender for the man-of-the-match award, Anderson claimed: "I’ve bowled better and got less rewards. It was just one of those days where catches went to hand.

“Them getting 350 was not good from our point of view,” he added, referring to last Friday’s 112-run defeat in Cape Town, when South Africa amassed 354 for six.

Johan Botha is caught behind off James Anderson, giving England's premier pace bowler a maiden ODI five-wicket haul

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“We wanted to come here and bowl a lot better and, luckily, we got a wicket that helped us with our plans.

“Tim Bresnan’s spell was fantastic from the bottom end, and Stuart got an early breakthrough as well, which was a huge help.”

Anderson has been troubled by a problem with his right knee for the past fortnight - and left the field after his 10-over allocation to raise further fears over his fitness.

However, he revealed later that he required treatment on a stubbed toe on his left foot, which team director Andy Flower admitted may be broken.

Either way, the fast bowler’s participation in Friday’s final match of the series is not in doubt.

Asked about Anderson’s knee problem, Flower said: “He might also have a broken toe. He stubbed a toe in the team room the other day, and it’s either horribly bruised or broken.

"But he’ll be fine. The doctor’s had a look at it and he’s not even going to x-ray it - because he says, ’Look, if it’s got a crack in it there’s nothing much we can do anyway’.”

Anderson had already sheepishly explained on Sunday evening how he hurt his toe, and Flower confirmed: “I think he just clumsily careered into a chair. He had to have some sort of anaesthetic on it before he played, so he did very well."

With a four-Test series beginning against the same opponents next month, there has been concern over the management of Anderson’s injury.

Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan savour England's victory, setting up the prospect of a series triumph in Durban on Friday

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However, after helping to bowl South Africa out for their lowest ODI total on home soil, Anderson said of his knee: “It seems to be getting better.

“The practice sessions, I’m taking reasonably lightly - and I’m getting it strapped up in a game as well. The way we are managing it, it is gradually getting better - and I hope it can continue.

“If it’s getting better while I’m playing I’m pretty confident it will just continue to do so. It’s not a concern at all once I’ve started bowling.”

It appears Anderson’s captain Andrew Strauss can sleep easy over his pace spearhead’s well-being - and he is also relaxed about the hostility being shown towards South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen by the home crowd.

While Pietersen’s fellow natives in the England team - Strauss is one, and Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior others - are receiving no special treatment, the mercurial middle-order batsman gets little peace.

But Strauss said: “That is something that we just don’t concern ourselves with at all. It’s up to the South African public to do what they want to do.

“I know that Kevin’s not bothered about it. If anything, it might give him a bit more motivation to have a big impact on the series - like he did last time.”

Strauss is contemplating the bigger picture, one which leaves England in with an outstanding chance of inflicting a rare home series defeat on South Africa.

“We’re in a good position but we’re not getting carried away with ourselves,” he said. “We said after Cape Town it is a long-term plan for us to improve in one-day cricket.

“We’re showing some very promising signs at this stage that we can go forward. We’ve got a brilliant opportunity to win a series out here on Friday, which would be a really good achievement.”