Edwards put England on the path to victory with a fine knock

Charlotte Edwards' fourth one-day century inspired England to a series-levelling 119-run win over South Africa in the second match in East London.

Edwards hit 13 boundaries and faced 117 balls in her knock of 102, leading England to 281-7 off their 50 overs.

The opener put on 142 runs for the first wicket with Laura Newton (65) before being bowled by Sune van Zyl, who claimed 2-53.

Clare Taylor then took 3-48 as the hosts were dismissed in the 43rd over.

England, who lost the first of five one-dayers by one wicket on Sunday, elected to bat first after winning the toss.

It proved to be a good decision, with Edwards and Newton scoring freely.

Both were untroubled in passing fifty, but with the score on 108 Newton was extremely lucky to survive a run-out when a direct hit dislodged her bails, only for them to nestle back into their grooves.

She was eventually bowled by Charlize van der Westhuizen at the end of the 30th over, her third one-day half-century including eight fours.

England were well on the way to a decent score when Edwards' dismissal reduced them to 203-2 with nine overs remaining.

Swift knocks from Claire Taylor (27), Arran Brindle (22) and Lydia Greenway (19) helped England set South Africa an asking rate just shy of six runs per over.

It was a task far too great for them, with opener Daleen Terblanche's 27 their highest score.

The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals after Lucy Pearson broke through in the seventh over when bowling Hanri Strydom.

In addition to Clare Taylor, other multiple wicket-takers for England were Helen Wardlaw (2-35) and Connor (2-26).

England face a Gauteng-NorthWest Invitation XI in Pretoria on Friday, before the third match of the one-day series takes place at the same venue on Sunday.

South Africa: M Terblanche, H Strydom, AL Hodgkinson, J Logtenberg, AE Smith, S Pillay, C van der Westhuizen, SA Fritz, CZ Brits, SSD van Zyl, APC Kilowan.