Parnell sparks England collapse

In reply,South Africa were 50-1 in 10 overs at the time of going to print.

Earlier,it took only six balls for Englands nightmare to begin as Dale Steyn clean-bowled Ravi Bopara with a slower one that left the opener completely flummoxed . Things got worse in the second over,as Luke Wright survived a caught-behind appeal off Wayne Parnell,was beaten off the next ball,before he finally seemed to have had enough and promptly walked off after edging the fifth delivery even before the umpire could raise his finger. England were already reeling at 4-2 and the scene was set for Kevin Pietersen to rise up against his old adversary.

Pietersen did start off confidently,striking Steyn for two consecutive fours before dishing out the same treatment to Jacques Kallis.

But the former England captain fell to a stunning catch at mid-off by Roelof van der Merwe off the bowling of Albie Morkel for a 17-ball 19 in the next overwhich incidentally turned out to be the first maiden of the tournament.

OWAIS AMIDST THE GLOOM

England then simply trundled along and Owais Shah was the only batsman to show any intent,hitting the first six of the innings off Johan Botha in the 11th over and then clearing the long-off boundary off van der Merwe. But Shahs dismissal for a 33-ball 38 proved to be the final nail as the rest of the batting simply fell away.