Andrew Flintoff smashed a six to give England a six-wicket victory in the fourth Test against South Africa at The Oval today after successfully chasing 197 on the final day.

Flintoff's six off Paul Harris took England 4-198 in their second innings.

South Africa won the series 2-1 with victories in Manchester and Birmingham.

It was their first series win in England since readmission to international cricket in 1991.

England had moved to 123 without loss before losing three wickets for 20 runs.

Makhaya Ntini removed Alastair Cook for 67 and Ian Bell for 4 while Harris dismissed Andrew Strauss for 58.

Kevin Pietersen, in his first match as captain since taking over from Michael Vaughan, and Paul Collingwood overcame that wobble to steer England to 3-182 when Harris had Pietersen caught for 13.

Collingwood, who resigned as England's limited overs captain last week, stayed calm to end the Test on 25 with Flintoff on 11.

Earlier, the England openers had to survive 11 overs of aggressive bowling after resuming on 0-0 having dismissed South Africa for 318 on Sunday evening.

Cook played and missed repeatedly during Ntini's opening overs while Strauss looked uncomfortable against Morne Morkel's short-pitched deliveries.

Strauss was caught off a Morkel no-ball on 4 but looked more settled afterward, especially against South Africa's backup bowlers.

After taking 11 overs to add 11 runs, Cook broke loose with 2 pulls for four in a single over from Ntini.

Cook continued to play positively and brought up his 14th test 50 in 83 balls with a classic cut past backward square off Jacques Kallis. It was Cook's 10th boundary.

Cook has not made a century in 11 tests and on Monday he failed again to reach the milestone after a solid start. He had just struck Ntini for his 14th four when he nudged the next delivery to Graeme Smith at slip. It was the ninth time the Essex batsman had been dismissed in the sixties.

Ntini then uprooted Ian Bell's leg stump for four and two balls later Harris dismissed Strauss.

Strauss had reached 58 - his first half century this series - and was looking increasingly confident when he nudged Harris round the corner to Smith fielding at leg stump.

Harris, who had batted defiantly with AB de Villiers on Sunday in making 34 in a 95-run stand, failed to extract enough turn and bounce to trouble England's batsmen.

The pick of the bowlers was Ntini with 2-55.

After looking out of form and short of pace in the opening match at Lord's, the 31-year-old South African improved dramatically as the series progressed.

He took seven wickets at The Oval following his 18th five wicket haul in the first innings.

AP