NOTTINGHAM, England, 19 August 2003 — Michael Vaughan enjoyed his first victory as England Test captain here yesterday as South Africa were beaten by 70 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on the fifth and final day.

England debutant James Kirtley did the damage yesterday, the Sussex paceman taking six for 34 as South Africa, chasing 202 to win, were bowled out for 131 before lunch. The result saw England level the five-match series at 1-1 and put behind them the memory of Vaughan’s first match in charge, the second Test at Lord’s, where they suffered an innings and 92 run thrashing.

England now head into Thursday’s fourth Test at Headingley with high hopes of repeating their 1998 home effort when, having been 1-0 down, they beat South Africa 2-1. “This is the best match of my career,” said Vaughan.

“Now we have to build on this performance starting at Headingley on Thursday,” he added.

His South African counterpart, Graeme Smith, insisted his team could recover from this defeat. “We showed a lot of character and I’m sure we can bounce back in the next Test,” he said.

Reflecting on the absence at Headingley of Shaun Pollock, who is returning home to be with his pregnant wife, added: “Shaun’s a world class cricketer but there are a lot of guys who are ready to step up to the plate and take their chance.”

The Proteas resumed on 63 for five, still needing another 139 runs for victory, with first innings heroes Neil McKenzie six not out and Mark Boucher nine not out. But, on a pitch where man-of-the-match Kirtley’s action often led to low-bouncing balls which made batting difficult, there was to be no repeat of the pair’s 129 sixth wicket stand that guided the Proteas to 362 first time around.

Kirtley bowled McKenzie — who in his first match of the series had made 90 in the first innings — for 11, South Africa 71 for six. All-rounder Pollock had made a defiant 62 and then taken six for 39 as England were bowled out for a meager 118 in their second innings.

But Pollock was powerless to resist as the Proteas lost their seventh wicket eight balls after their sixth.

Former captain Pollock went for a four-ball nought, bowled by an Andrew Flintoff delivery that barely lifted off the pitch, South Africa 80 for seven. The collapse continued when Andrew Hall went for a first ball nought, an edged drive off Kirtley well caught by Marcus Trescothick at first slip.

South Africa were now 81 for eight with Kirtley, 28, who had fought back from the stigma of having his action reported to the International Cricket Council, taking two for one in eight balls.

Paul Adams was dropped on one by second slip Mark Butcher off Kirtley, the new boy denied his fifth wicket of the innings. Meanwhile wicket-keeper Boucher remained defiant, even off-driving Kirtley for four, as a packed crowd roared England home in Trent Bridge’s 50th Test.

Vice-captain Boucher’s two off James Anderson brought up his fifty in 85 balls including seven fours. But Kirtley’s fourth ball back then saw him lure Adams (15) into a simple caught and bowled dismissal before he wrapped up the match when he had Boucher caught behind by wicket-keeper Alec Stewart for 52. Kirtley described the result and his part in it as “a fairy tale”.

“I’ve been dreaming about this, and it’s nice to do it at Trent Bridge where the support’s so strong,” he added. “The team’s performing brilliantly so hopefully we’ll have a repeat win at Headingley.”

Meanwhile, fast bowlers Martin Bicknell and Kabir Ali have been called up by England for the fourth Test against South Africa at Headingley, the England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday.

The duo were added to the squad as possible replacements for Steve Harmison, who is suffering from a calf injury and could be ruled out of the Test which starts on Thursday. The series is balanced at 1-1.

The 34-year-old Bicknell played two Tests for England 10 years ago against Australia while Worcestershire-based Ali, 22, was included in England’s one-day squad earlier this season but did not get a game.

“He has been one of the more unluckiest guys not to have been selected (before),” Graveney said referring to Bicknell. “He’s a very experienced performer and we do have a very young attack.”

Squad: Michael Vaughan (capt.), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Martin Bicknell, Mark Butcher, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Nasser Hussain, James Kirtley, Ed Smith, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Marcus Trescothick.