Centurion, Sept. 27: Owais Shah put the South African attack to the sword with a rapidfire 98 to help England post a challenging 323/8 in the Champions Trophy here on Sunday.

Shah smashed six sixes and five fours in his 89-ball knock in the day-night match to boost his team’s hopes of qualifying for the semifinals with a second successive victory in the four-team Group B.

He put his team on course for a big total with a gem of an innings on a good batting pitch, putting on a record 163 off 26.1 overs for the third wicket with all-rounder Paul Collingwood, who hit a solid 82 off 94 balls.

England’s previous best for the third wicket against South Africa in one-day internationals was 114 between Marcus Trescothick and Anthony McGrath in Manchester in 2003.

It was also England’s highest one-day total against South Africa, the previous best being 304/8.

Shah and Collingwood set the stage for the final onslaught, with England plundering 92 in their last 10 overs. — AFP