Patel leads England to victory

LONDON (Reuters) - Left-arm spinner Samit Patel took five for 41 and scored 31 runs to lead England to a 126-run victory over South Africa in the third one-day international at the Oval on Friday.

His all-round efforts and an unbeaten 78 from Andrew Flintoff from 77 balls enabled England to clinch the five-match series 3-0.

"We came into the series as underdogs for sure ... but the boys have been magnificent," captain Kevin Pietersen told Sky Sports television. "It is an exciting place to be, the England dressing room.

"But we want to improve and try to win 5-0 if we can. I want the guys to enjoy this victory and then turn up on Sunday (at Lord's) ready to go 4-0 up."

Patel, playing only his fourth one-day international, shared a 74-run partnership with Flintoff in England's impressive 296 for seven after acting South Africa captain Jacques Kallis had won the toss and elected to field.

England got off to an electric start courtesy of Ian Bell, who hit 73 off 77 balls and put on 101 for the first wicket with Matt Prior (33) off just 15.2 overs.

But the hosts suffered a top-order collapse after Bell's departure, Owais Shah (23) and Pietersen (5) both falling to Kallis in quick succession for the addition of just 11 runs.

PUNISHING STROKES

Their demise brought Flintoff to the crease and the all-rounder produced some punishing strokes to take England to an impressive score.