The only niggling concern about England's sauntering victory over South Africa here yesterday was that, if they really are preparing for the 2003 World Cup, they may have peaked too early.

They won their opening match in the triangular series, which also features Zimbabwe, with some brio and with 10.3 overs to spare. It was only England's fourth one-day win by nine wickets and Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight took them to within 20 runs of their first by 10 wickets.

For the moment blue is most definitely the colour and that World Cup exit after defeat by India at Edgbaston last May is almost forgotten.

Hussain had described the South Africa Test side as a military operation and it must be remembered that yesterday they were without three senior officers. The absence of Allan Donald, Daryll Cullinan and Jonty Rhodes meant they were travelling incognito at times.

Instead it was England who marched out with the parade soldier's measured step. In all departments it was a performance of high professionalism and self-discipline, and the fact that they were ultimately carried to victory by Hussain and Knight was of immense satisfaction to both batsmen.

A year ago Hussain was not highly regarded as a one-day batsman and played in Australia only by default. Knight, after establishing considerable credentials in this form of cricket, lost his place for the World Cup.

This was England's second international success against South Africa in six days, following their innovative piece of larceny at Centurion last week.

"It makes the series 2-2 against South Africa this winter," chirped one England follower through his rose-tints.

It was only England's second win in 13 one-day internationals against South Africa and their seventh in 19 against these opponents overall. It was South Africa's worst one-day defeat for six years.

A wearily effusive Hussain said: "This was a very good day at the office. This is the benchmark for the rest of the series. The influx of new players has given us a buzz and an energy.

"You saw it in Potchefstroom the other night and you saw it again today."

It was one of the more experienced players, however, Darren Gough, who provided the man-of-the-match performance with figures of four for 29. Along with Andrew Caddick, Craig White and Mark Ealham he used the slower ball with great effect. Half the South African batsmen were dismissed by slow off-cutters bowled by seamers.

"I am very pleased for Goughie," said Hussain. "He's a worrier, even though he doesn't always let on, and he knows he was below his best in the Test matches.

"At his best he is pretty good and he will be going to bed tonight feeling very pleased with himself. He is a quality bowler. Now we must keep the impetus in Cape Town (on Wednesday), where we didn't play well in the Test." England, after losing the toss, broke through with the fifth ball of the opening over when Gary Kirsten, driving, was caught behind off Gough. If the wicketkeeper Chris Read needed a lift after being dropped for Mark Alleyne last week this was it.

Herschelle Gibbs may have been unlucky to be given out lbw to Caddick with the last ball of the fourth over but there was no doubt about Dale Benkenstein. He was bowled via inside edge and pads by one of Gough's slower deliveries.

There was more good fortune for England when Hansie Cronje was given out caught behind off Gough to make it 23 for four in the seventh. He did not touch the ball.

But England, positive and mean, largely made their own luck.

When Mark Boucher slogged another slower delivery, this time from White, to mid-on South Africa were 53 for five and looked beyond meaningful recovery. Their best innings was played by Jacques Kallis, who scored a masterful half-century before he was becalmed.

Pieter Strydom made a solid 34 and Lance Klusener smote Graeme Hick to leg for six in his 27. But the loss of early wickets took their toll and South Africa managed only 43 runs from their last 10 overs.

After a tight opening spell by Shaun Pollock and David Terbrugge, Knight and Hussain responded to the challenge to lift the ball over the close field.

They put on 165 before Hussain was caught at cover. He had scored 85 from 114 deliveries while Knight's undefeated 71 occupied 112 balls.

South Africa, probably even stronger in one-day cricket than they are in Tests, have a fight on their hands.

Australia beat Pakistan by 15 runs in a triangular series limited-overs match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. Michael Bevan made 83 and Ricky Ponting 53 in Australia's 260 for nine from 50 overs while Ijaz Ahmed had 85 in Pakistan's 245 from 48.5 overs.