England took three wickets in a dramatic final over to tie the second one-dayer with South Africa today.
The home side, chasing England's 270-5 and hoping to level the seven-match series at 1-1, looked the favourites on 263 for five and with eight to win off fast bowler Kabir Ali's final six balls.
The match seemed settled when Ali bowled a full-pitch no-ball first delivery which Mark Boucher pulled for four. Boucher, though, was caught off an identical shot next ball and Ashwell Prince was then run out but South Africa still only needed one run off the final delivery with the scores tied.
All rounder Andrew Hall, however, missed it and was stumped by Geraint Jones, standing up, as the home side ended on 270-8, sparking huge celebrations among the England fielders as they mobbed Jones and Ali. Ali's first seven overs had cost 49 runs.
"It was a tough night for Kabir but that was a special last over under pressure," said Marcus Trescothick, who stood in as captain after Michael Vaughan was sidelined by a bad stomach after batting.
Earlier powerful right-hander Kevin Pietersen, born in South Africa but who moved to England to improve his chances of international cricket, scored an unbeaten maiden century, finishing on 108 from 96 balls.
But Jacques Kallis (63) and Herschelle Gibbs (78) put on 134 for the third South African wicket to keep the game alive. The home side still needed 82 off the last 10 overs and 36 off five as Justin Kemp, Boucher and Shaun Pollock waded with some big hitting at the death.
Earlier many of the spectators, in an orchestrated move, turned their backs on Pietersen as he walked back to the pavilion after his innings. The third game of the seven-match series takes place on Friday in Port Elizabeth.