Date-stamped : 18 Jan96 - 02:38 ODI # 1039 South Africa v England, 5th One-day International. Kingsmead, Durban. 17 January 1996. ====> report Electronic Telegraph Thursday 18 January 1996 S Africa Tour - 5th One-Day International: Donald rubs salt into England wounds as S Africa clinch series By Mark Nicholas in Durban South Africa (185-5) beat England (184) by 5 wickets. S Africa take unbeatable 4-1 lead in seven-match series DURBAN was typically humid yesterday afternoon, overcast and damp after the morning drizzle. By nightfall the air was sticky, like the Tropics, which evened things up as the new ball swung around prodigiously. Both captains were keen to bowl first - Michael Atherton to such an extent that he made a late change to his team leaving out the spinner, Richard Illingworth, and including the swinger, Philip De Freitas. But it was Hansie Cronje who won the toss and took his chance. Cronje did not give a thought to spin, he rarely does, but he did give a World Cup lifeline to Fanie de Villiers, who is on the comeback trail. Cronje also won the match by a convincing five wickets and by virtue of his own, and Jacques Kallis`s, bright batting, and South Africa took an unassailable 4-1 advantage in the seven- match series. As things turned out the winning of the toss was a red herring. The afternoon conditions did little more than gently encourage the South African fast bowlers, but they grabbed their chance to rub salt into the English wounds of the last weekend with typi- cal, clinical skill. Best of them all was the supremely fit Allan Donald, who took four English wickets. He has not missed a match all season - and that after his devastating form for Warwickshire last summer. Alec Stewart split the webbing between his fourth finger and lit- tle finger while fielding and will not play again in this series, though he will be fit for the World Cup. It was exactly as Atherton looked to up the tempo that Donald struck, with the first ball of his second over England had started well enough, Stewart easing either side of point with his special timing and most memorably whipping Shaun Pollock off his hip past square leg, while Atherton mixed com- fortable defence with an occasional characteristic back-foot force. The pair put on 51 in 88 balls before Donald, after a slack first over, rolled up his sleeves. Donald does not use the new, white ball in these one-day matches because he is concerned he will not control its exaggerated early swing. This is fine by Cronje, who has Pollock, the accurate Craig Matthews and perhaps now even De Villiers as alternatives and it leaves his finest and fastest bowler for the middle of the innings when the stroke- makers are looking to accelerate. It was exactly as Atherton looked to up the tempo that Donald struck, with the first ball of his second over, making a delivery of good length bounce and hurry the England captain who went after it without success. Five balls later Stewart was rooted to the spot by a ball that came in on the wide angle of Donald`s delivery and beat the batsman`s unconvincing push. This changed the picture of the England innings which then threatened to grind to a halt as Graeme Hick and Robin Smith, both looking below par, flashed wildly outside off stump and paid the highest price. Donald was on the high fives - he had four for 19 in 26 balls - and was grinning madly at Graham Thorpe, whose own piercing eyes indicated his conviction. Two thunderous pull shots indicated his nerve. He saw off the main threat, milked Cronje and coped clev- erly with Pollock, who gave him no room to hit boundaries. No-one could have bargained on the dramatic start to England`s defence England began their last 10 overs with five wickets in hand and an acceptable 146 on the board. Thorpe, thinking it reasonable to push on, lost his leg stump to Matthews; Russell, crafty as ever with his placement, for once misjudged his own speed. For the record England managed just 38 from the last 10 overs and lost five wickets for 20 runs in the final 38 balls of the in- nings. No-one could have bargained on the dramatic start to England`s defence, when Gary Kirsten departed without scoring, and umpire Davd Orchard thought Andrew Hudson lbw to Cork when he probably was not. These blows set South Africa on their heels, and they rocked there, uncertain of themselves against Cork`s persuasion, six overs and two wickets for eight runs when Atherton rested him, and Martin`s attacking swing, until Kallis began to drive over cover. Cronje followed his example, breaking the shackles he had imposed on himself by running at DeFreitas`s second ball and smashing it down the ground. In all, the South African captain hit four boundaries and a six, but it was his junior partner, whose first international fifty came from just 79 balls, who caught the eye. South Africa are looking formidable in the field, and less flimsy by the day with the bat. England bowled tidily enough and compet- ed with a plan, and with greater conviction. Having said that, they were outplayed and will know that if they miss chances - one or two chances went down - and bat so sketchily, they will not beat the world`s best teams. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http: www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)