Record Breaking Collingwood Has Day To Remember

Even the most ambitious of script writers could not have predicted the man of the match display Paul Collingwood produced on his 171st cap to surpass Alec Stewarts ODI appearance record.

Collingwood was always in the game reminding everyone of his brilliance in the field with an outstanding diving catch to his left at backward point to dismiss AB de Villiers. The Durham player then took 2-22 from 6 overs and followed that by scoring an unbeaten 105 to ease England home chasing South Africa's 250-9.

England won the toss and opted to field first in an attempt to make an early breakthrough and put South Africa under pressure. Strauss was soon rewarded for his decision when Tim Bresnan dismissed Graeme Smith for 12. Collingwood's moment of brilliance then dismissed De Villiers before JP Duminy and Alviro Petersen offered the most resistance from the South African middle order with a stand of 73.

Duminy and Peterson scored 41 and 64 respectively whilst Mark Boucher chipped in with a steady 30 from 37 balls but could not find a partner to stay with him as South Africa limped to 250 off their allotted overs.

England could have been chasing less if the bowlers had received more consistent support from the fielders. Strauss was the main culprit dropping three catches in the offside, including Duminy when the left hand batsman was on 23. However Collingwood's catch was almost matched by Eoin Morgan who plucked out Albie Morkels powerful pull on the boundary with an acrobatic aerial leap.

When England did set about chasing down the Proteas total Jonathan Trott survived a few scares in the opening over with Dale Steyn beating his outside edge. However once the opening exchanges had passed the England openers looked comfortable with Strauss using his feet well to dismiss Charl Langeveldt to the ropes twice before trying the tactic once too often and offering a leading edge into the offside which was caught by Hashim Amla.

Kevin Pietersen stay was short lived after walking to the crease to plenty of booing from the home crowd, as he was bowled by Morkel for 4 to leave England on 45-2.

Trott and Collingwood then set about rescuing the England innings with an excellent partnership of 162 rotating the strike comfortably as well as more aggressive hitting when the opportunity presented itself.

Trott looked to be closing in on a maiden ODI century before he was caught in the deep by Amla off the bowling of Langeveldt for 87. With England on 207-3 the rest of the run chase looked a formality with the main interest being whether Collingwood would complete a fairytale script and reach his fifth ODI century.

The moment came with a trademark heave through the onside to complete the century off 108 balls. Morgan then finished the game driving the ball through the onside to see England home by seven wickets. Despite a comfortable win the day belonged to Collingwood. England's most capped ODI player of all time produced an all round performance that reflected his contribution to the team with bat, ball and in the field since making his debut in 2001.