Pietersen heroics prove in vain

Kevin Pietersen's magnificent century was not enough to secure an England victory

A valiant unbeaten century from Kevin Pietersen was not enough to prevent South Africa from claiming a seven-run victory over England in the fifth one-day international at Buffalo Park and taking an insurmountable 3-1 series lead.

A mighty six off the last ball of the match ensured the Hampshire star reached three figures off just 69 balls - the fastest ton by an Englishman in one-day internationals.

However, his brave efforts were ultimately in vain as England fell agonisingly short of chasing down a daunting 312-run victory target with two matches in the series still to play.

Batting first, the Proteas finished on 311 for seven off their allotted 50 overs - their highest ODI score against England.

A brutal knock from Justin Kemp did most of the damage as the flamboyant all-rounder plundered 80 from just 50 balls, and put on a 117-run partnership with captain Graeme Smith for the fifth wicket.

Darren Gough claimed three crucial wickets for England

Smith ended the hosts' innings on 115 not out, his second one-day international ton, with Darren Gough the stand-out performer for the visitors after claiming 3-52 with a late burst of wickets.

In reply, England made a cautious start as openers Geraint Jones and Marcus Trescothick put on 22 for the first wicket.

Jones was the more aggressive of the two and played a couple of textbook cover drives, before he lost his partner when Trescothick (four) edged Shaun Pollock behind and Kemp held on at first slip to leave England on 22 for one.

Jones then had a major let-off - caught behind off a Jacques Kallis no-ball - but his luck soon ran out when, with England on 61, he sliced Andre Nel to Herschelle Gibbs at point for 37.

Vaughan and Andrew Strauss knuckled down to provide a platform upon which to build and they took the score on to 117 when the Middlesex left-hander was needlessly run out for 20.

Michael Vaughan played a composed innings chasing a mighty South African total

As the required run-rate topped 10-an-over Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen started to play attacking cricket and the latter thumped Nicky Boje for a couple of towering sixes.

The pair pushed the total on to 174 when Vaughan (70) looked for a maximum off Boje but instead picked out Ashwell Prince at mid-wicket.

Pietersen continued to score at an impressive rate and raced to his half-century, with Vikram Solanki an able accomplice.

The Worcestershire star was determined to make quick runs but was run out for 19 by AB de Villiers following a mix-up with Pietersen, leaving England on 224.

Paul Collingwood (four) lasted just four balls before he was trapped lbw by Kallis, and Ashley Giles followed for a brisk 15 with the onus now firmly on Pietersen.

A helicopter is employed to dry the sodden outfield

He and Kabir Ali swung the bat at everything and put on a 36-run partnership before Ali was run out. Pietersen had slogged Nel to the boundary only to be dropped by substitute fielder Jacques Rudolph just inside the rope. However, the fielder remained composed, collected the ball and threw it to Nel who was hovering over the stumps to send Ali packing.

As the number of deliveries left to score runs off rapidly decreased England found themselves needing 16 off the last three balls.

It proved too much, but Pietersen was able to bring up his second ODI hundred with a mighty blow off Nel's final delivery.

Overnight rain prevented the fifth encounter between the sides getting under way at the 2.30pm scheduled start time as the outfield was sodden in patches.

But umpires Steve Bucknor and Ian Howell decided the damp surface had been dried sufficiently after a helicopter was employed to circle the outfield.

Graeme Smith drives for four

England, needing to avoid defeat to retain hopes of a series victory, made two changes to the side which was beaten in Cape Town at the weekend, with Stephen Harmison and Ian Bell omitted.

That meant Matthew Hoggard came back after a rest and Solanki, who top-scored in his last two appearances, returned in the middle-order.

South Africa, meanwhile, kept the same XI for the third match on the trot as they sought to go two games clear.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, and Smith signalled his intent from the outset with several sweetly-timed boundaries.

He drove the first four of the afternoon in the second over when he flashed a wide delivery from Hoggard through the smattering of sawdust in the covers.

England, too, enjoyed early success with the wicket of de Villiers (two), caught by wicket-keeper Jones off Gough.

Sawdust covers the damp areas on the pitch in East London

However, that brought Kallis (49) to the crease and he and Smith shared in a 90-run stand until the all-rounder flipped Ali straight to deep square-leg where substitute fielder Bell held the chance.

Gibbs (eight) then fell cheaply when, having been at the crease for just 15 minutes, he clipped Ali to Pietersen at mid-wicket to leave the home side on 119 for three.

That double breakthrough altered the tempo as Prince joined Smith out in the middle. Runs were suddenly harder to come by, although both batsmen continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over at a modest rate.

They took the tally up to 181 for three when Smith sent Prince (34), who was looking for a second run, back to his crease and Hoggard fired in a direct throw straight to Jones for a close run-out.

England had managed to claw their way back into the match but once Kemp joined Smith, the fireworks started.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith celebrates reaching his second ODI hundred

Kemp struck seven sixes and four fours as he raced to yet another half-century and, alongside Smith, pushed the run-rate beyond six per over.

Gough eventually ended the onslaught with a searing yorker that uprooted Kemp's off stump and Mark Boucher (nought) followed the very next ball to leave Gough on a hat-trick.

The Essex seamer was unable to achieve the landmark but did play a key role in the run out of Pollock on his hat-trick delivery. Pollock ran two but coming back for a third he was unable to beat Solanki's pin-point throw and Gough whipped off the bails.

A late blast from Boje, 10 off four, pushed the score up to 311 by the close of innings to leave England with a substantial target to chase.