South Africa, spurred by the irrepressible Jonty Rhodes both in the field and with the bat, launched the three-match limited overs series against England with a three-wicket victory at The Oval yesterday. Rhodes played a telling role in his side's victory by running out England's top scorer Nick Knight for 64 and then hitting an unbeaten 39 as South Africa surged to their target of 224 with eight balls to spare.

England, put in to bat, made a modest 223 for nine from their 50 overs, crucially suffering a middle order collapse in which they tumbled from 155 for two to 161 for six in 20 deliveries after Rhodes's dismissal of Knight.

South Africa were put on course by a fluent 62 in 91 balls from the in-form Jacques Kallis but subsequently slipped to 175 for six when off-spinner Robert Croft snapped up captain Hansie Cronje (40) and Shaun Pollock in consecutive deliveries.

Rhodes and Lance Klusener, who struck a rapid 22, added 39 in six overs as the touring side cruised home at 224 for seven.