England crush South Africa

England put themselves on course for a place in the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 39-run trouncing of South Africa in their Super Eight match at Kensington Oval.

They cashed in on Kevin Pietersen's second successive half-century to post 168 for seven - a challenge South Africa never threatened to meet as spinners Michael Yardy and Graeme Swann took five big wickets for 55 between them.

England therefore remain unbeaten in Group E and, even if South Africa can see off champions Pakistan in St Lucia on Monday, must simply avoid a wide-margin defeat against New Zealand later that day at the same venue to reach the last four.

Pietersen (53) shared a second-wicket stand of 94 in under 12 overs with Craig Kieswetter (41) that was the backbone of the England innings.

After the top three were gone for 44 in the eighth over, South Africa were already up against it.

Captain Graeme Smith was third out, chipping a catch to deep midwicket in Swann's first over.

Yardy had outdone Swann's party piece of striking early, by having Herschelle Gibbs sweeping his first delivery to be well-held by Ryan Sidebottom running and tumbling back from short fine-leg.

Before then, Jacques Kallis had mistimed a drive at Stuart Broad straight to mid-off - and Albie Morkel was to go for a second-ball duck when he edged off Yardy.

AB de Villiers mistimed a pull at Swann and was caught in the ring - and although JP Duminy and the ever dependable Mark Boucher tried to mount some resistance, they had been left with much too much to do.

In the end they were unable even to bat their overs, and Sidebottom took advantage with late wickets to finish with the best statistics of three for 23.