england shine

28 August 2008 - 02:00
By unknown

England captain Kevin Pietersen hailed the "energy and buzz" surrounding his team after they routed South Africa by 10 wickets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

England captain Kevin Pietersen hailed the "energy and buzz" surrounding his team after they routed South Africa by 10 wickets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

But he warned England were not the finished article despite taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

"In the four or five years I have played one-day internationals we have not hammered a team as convincingly as that before," he said.

"There's an energy and a buzz about us. I'm not going to stand here and say this is the best team we've had and it's the start of great things, but if we keep training hard I'm sure we won't be too far wide of the mark.

"It was very special but we are a long way from finishing this series."

He had special praise for wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who took six catches and smashed an unbeaten 45 as South Africa were dismissed for 83 - their lowest ever total against England.

Pietersen said of Prior: "I was pleased he finished not out with six catches.

"It's brilliant because it has been a headache for however long with our wicketkeeper, but let's hope it stays good because he's a hell of a batsman."

And the new captain, who has a 100 percent record against his native South Africa, was also delighted as young bowler Stuart Broad celebrated his first five-wicket haul, taking 5-23.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith apologised for his team's abject display as the team was greeted with a chorus of boos.

"We can only apologise for what was a poor performance," he said. - BBC