Man-of-the-match Marcus Trescothick made an unbeaten 69 as England pulled off a remarkable nine-wicket victory at The Oval, levelling the series 2-2 in the process to end an extraordinary and undulating summer.

That England escaped with a drawn series was surprising enough, but to have achieved it by beating South Africa at The Oval after conceding 484 in the first innings was nothing short of sensational.

Never before have England conceded more runs in the first innings at home and gone on to win, and for that they owe a huge debt to Trescothick after the left-handed opener contributed a massive 288 runs to the cause.

His latest effort, 69 not out off 66 balls, ensured there would be no last minute jitters despite Michael Vaughan falling for 13 two balls after lunch.

In company with Mark Butcher (20 not out) he smashed the final 63 runs in just 62 balls after the interval, lifting the lid off another full house as England at last gave their supporters something to cheer.

Fittingly it was Trescothick who scored the winning runs, flashing Jacques Kallis over the slips for his 12th boundary as England wrapped up victory at 2.03pm.

In the end it was all achieved with minimum fuss and maximum flourish as overnight fears of a doughty rearguard action and showery intervention proved groundless.

South Africa had earlier resumed their second innings on 185-6, a lead of 65, but Surrey's Martin Bicknell (4-84) and Durham speedster Steve Harmison (4-33) both returned Test bests as they shared the spoils with two wickets apiece in the opening hour.

Their combined efforts ensured South Africa's final four wickets were snaffled for just 44 runs, leaving England requiring 110 to win the Test and level the series 2-2.

Surrey stalwart Bicknell claimed wickets with the 22nd and 23rd deliveries of the morning to dismiss the dangerous Mark Boucher (25) and Hall (0).

Boucher nibbled at a tempting away swinger which was safely snaffled by Alec Stewart, who had earlier led out the England team on his final day of Test cricket, while Hall popped his first delivery straight to Ed Smith at short mid-wicket.

Paul Adams defiantly kept out Bicknell's hat-trick delivery but Shaun Pollock's sprightly 43 (off 57 balls) was terminated when he steered a Steve Harmison long-hop directly to Graham Thorpe at backward point.

Adams blasted three quick boundaries to extend the lead past 100 but Harmison's extra pace and bounce did for Makhaya Ntini as the South African number 11 was superbly caught at forward short leg by Smith.

In all it had taken just 75 balls and 55 minutes for England to wrap up the innings, much to the delight of a near-capacity last-day crowd.

By lunch England had responded with 47-0 as Trescothick (26 not out) and Vaughan (13 not out) reduced the target to 63 and although the latter fell soon after it proved a temporary blip on an otherwise red-letter day for English cricket.

8 Sep, 2003