Champions Trophy
Shah boosts England
2009-09-27 18:37
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Centurion - Owais Shah narrowly missed his second one-day international century Sunday, but his 98 off 89 balls saw England race to 323-8 against South Africa at the Champions Trophy.
He was especially destructive against South Africa's spinners as he shared in a speedy third-wicket partnership of 163 with Paul Collingwood, which took just 26 overs and one ball.
He hit five fours and six sixes as South Africa's bowlers battled to find a line and length which would contain him, and he was especially severe on full pitched straight bowling, often flicking the ball into the stands on the leg side.
Collingwood made 82 off 94 balls to continue his good run of form in the tournament, and the pair was only separated when Shah was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off his bat and pad off the bowling of Johan Botha.
Collingwood went just five overs later, dragging on a wide ball from left-arm paceman Wayne Parnell.
But the departure was the signal for Eoin Morgan to cut loose, and he raced to the fastest half-century of the tournament when he reached his 50 off 26 balls. He was eventually caught by South African captain Graeme Smith off the bowling of Dale Steyn for 67 off 34 balls, which included four fours and five sixes.
Parnell continued to be the best wicket-taker in the tournament, finishing with three, but at the cost of 60 runs in his 10 overs.
In the end, off-spinner Botha got among the wickets at the end of the innings and took 2-56 off nine overs.