The England cricketers who had promised a fresh dawn achieved only a brave new dusk in their delayed day-night final against South Africa yesterday.

Chasing a rather puny-looking 150 to win their first one-day tournament in eight attempts, they were bowled out for 111 in 38 overs and lost by 38 runs. Only a last-wicket stand of 24 carried them past their lowest score in one-day internationals, the 93 they made against Australia in the 1975 World Cup semi-final.

In a match reduced to 45 overs, England had earlier had South Africa in desperate trouble at 21 for five. But their own batting was shattered by Shaun Pollock, who took five for 20 as South Africa made it nine wins from 12 against England in this country.

England's modest target was always more hazardous than it appeared on a pitch that had been sweating under the covers like a malaria patient over the previous few days. For a one-day match, the ball did too much when it was new. The movement was sometimes exaggerated, though given the conditions over the past week it would be harsh to blame the ground-staff for a lack of preparation.

But just when a little class and some character would have carried the day, England betrayed themselves with poor technique and a lack of resolve. When stern questions were asked, they looked bashfully away.

Nasser Hussain is not a natural one-day batsman but targets as small as this suit his intense and determined style. Here, though, he had scored only eight when he played a loose hook shot and was caught behind. Pollock was on his way.

In his next over he had Nick Knight, again caught behind from a poor stroke. The delivery was so wide that the umpire had already signalled it as such before raising his finger. Darren Maddy was then caught at slip in the same over, pushing sheepishly forward; 23 for three and Pollock had taken all the wickets for two runs in nine balls.