Bell Leads England to 2-1 Lead

London: A fine 88 by Bell and useful knocks from Trott and Morgan helped England beat South Africa by 6 wickets to go 2-1 up at Lord's on Sunday.

A very comfortable victory with the real damage done with the ball, South Africa's 220 for 8 was never going to be enough if England batted properly, which they did with Ian Bell in nice touch again and Jonathan Trott dogging out more runs.

England, therefore, 2-1 up in the series and return to the top of the world rankings, which they will now hold until at least January when they take on India.

Man of the Match, Ian Bell for his 88 from 137 balls.

Earlier, James Tredwell atoned for dropping two catches with three wickets as England restricted South Africa to 220 for eight.

The off-spinner took three for 35, all stumped by wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter in eight overs.

Tredwell had kept his place after figures of two for 49 during England's four-wicket win at The Oval on Friday.

The Kent bowler only got his chance when England rested number one spinner Graeme Swann for the rest of this series because of a longstanding elbow injury.

And it seemed England might miss Swann as much for his slip catching as his bowling on Sunday when Tredwell dropped openers Hashim Amla, on four, and Graeme Smith, on 26, both off fast bowler Steven Finn.

But unlike previous England dropped catches this season -- which helped Amla become the first South African to a Test triple century, at The Oval last month, and 150 in an 80-run win in the second one-dayer in Southampton on Tuesday -- neither proved excessively costly.

Instead it was South Africa-born Dernbach who had Smith, on 29, top-edging a pull to Kieswetter to leave the Proteas 68 for one after England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and fielded in overcast conditions that promised assistance to his seamers.

And missing Amla, 'only' cost England 41 runs Sunday when he was bowled between bat and pad by medium-pacer Ravi Bopara for an innings top score of 45.

Amla's exit was the start of a South Africa collapse from 100 for one to 115 for four.

JP Duminy was stumped off a well-flighted Tredwell delivery, before Bopara (two for 34) bowled Faf du Plessis off the inside edge.

South Africa went 13 overs without a boundary as captain AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar compiled a stand of 51 in 74 balls.

But de Villiers (29) and Wayne Parnell (five) were both stumped by former South Africa junior international Kieswetter, who finished with five dismissals in the innings, as Tredwell took two wickets for no runs in five balls.

Robin Peterson struck Tredwell for a switch-hit four and a six off successive deliveries, the left-hander's 31 not out coming off 20 balls.

Trent Bridge hosting the 5th & final ODI, a day-night affair, on Wednesday.

Brief scores
South Africa 220 for 8 (Amla 45, Tredwell 3-35, Bopara 2-34)
England 224 for 4 (Bell 88, Trott 48, Steyn 2-47)
Result England won by 6 wickets
MOM Ian Bell (England)