Simon Mann reports on England's latest one day defeat

The pair put on 112 for the sixth wicket after England's innings had seen a familiar collapse to leave them 95 for five.

But South Africa made light work of the challenging 282 target, with Jonty Rhodes seeing them home with an unbeaten 61.

Darryl Cullinan and skipper Hanse Cronje were also in the runs with 69 and 67, as their side secured a six wicket win with more than three overs to spare.

The frustration shows on the face of England captain Adam Hollioake

Earlier Fairbrother, playing his first international since the 1996 World Cup, and Hollioake rescued England's innings, rewriting the history books along the way.

Their stand of 112 in 24 overs was a record for the England sixth wicket in limited overs cricket, beating 98 set by David Gower and Ian Gould in 1983.

Thirty-five-year-old Fairbrother hit 56 from 78 balls and Hollioake ended on 83 - his highest one-day score for his country.

England had suffered an early setback when Alistair Brown sliced spinner Pat Symcox to Jacques Kallis at deep point.

But Mark Ealham was promoted to number three, and dominated a second wicket stand of 66 in 10 overs with Nick Knight.

He made 44 from 37 balls before miscueing Kallis to Rhodes at deep backward point.

At that stage England were well placed at 80 for two but then came the collapse, and three England wickets for two runs in nine balls.

Daryll Cullinen sweeps the ball for four past Jack Russell

Kallis struck twice in one over, trapping Graeme Hick leg before and then taking Knight caught behind for 32.

It became 95 for five when Graham Lloyd tried to cut and was adjudged lbw to spinner Nicky Boje without scoring.

Fairbrother and Hollioake then set about their work.

The Lancastrian accumulated in typical style and his half century contained 29 singles.

Hollioake produced the more eye-catching shots as the century partnership came up in 22 overs.

Fairbrother was eventually bowled by Mike Rindel after attempting to nudge the ball to third man but Hollioake continued to flourish, with Jack Russell giving good support with 19.

Century opening stand

Hollioake was forced to miss nine overs in the early stages of the South African reply suffering from dehydration after his efforts with the bat.

His side's total of 281 for seven rarely looked enough as England's seamers were guilty of over-pitching or bowling too short on a slow but true surface.

Pete Martin kicks the floor as yet another ball bites the dust

Only spinner Ashley Giles exercised any sort of control, and he eventually broke South Africa's opening partnership having Rindel caught at long off.

But he and Cullinan had already made 113 in 20 overs, although Hick soon had the other opener caught by Fairbrother in the deep for 69.

Jacques Kallis was run out for 15 before Cronje and Jonty Rhodes quickly put the South Africans back in command.

The South African skipper top-edged Hollioake to square leg to depart for 67, but by then only another 30 were needed from seven overs.

It was left to Rhodes to deliver the final nail in England's coffin with an unbeaten 61 from 63 balls with five fours.

Conditions played part

England chairman of selectors David Graveney said the game had been lost in two areas - during the batting collapse and when the bowlers failed to take control at the start of the South African innings.

But he paid tribute to Hollioake for fielding and bowling after his exertions.

"When he came back into the dressing room he certainly wasn't leaping around.

"He was badly dehydrated and very dizzy and was on the point of falling over, but he did brilliantly to go back out."

The chairman said the heat had affected everyone: "I think all the lads have found the conditions really difficult in terms of the temperature and the humidity - and remember they have come out of an English autumn."

Despite their exit from the competition, Hollioake's team - a separate squad to that in Australia for the Ashes tour - now have a couple of days rest before flying home.

They have to stay in Bangladesh until Wednesday for the official tournament photograph to be taken.

Scorecard

England Won Toss and elected to bat

• N V Knight c Boucher b Kallis 32
• A D Brown c Kallis b Symcox 6
• M A Ealham c Rhodes b Kallis 44
• G A Hick lbw b Kallis 2
• N H Fairbrother b Rindel 56
• G D Lloyd lbw b Boje 0
• A J Hollioake not out 83
• R C Russell c Benkenstein b Dawson 19
• A F Giles not out 5

Extras b3 lb19 w9 nb3 34

Total 7 wkts Innings Complete (50 overs) 281

Fall: 1-14 2-80 3-93 4-94 5-95 6-207 7-256

Did Not Bat: I D Austin, P J Martin.

Bowling: Dawson 9-0-51-1, Symcox 10-0-45-1, Kallis 10-0-48-3, Cronje 3-0-19-0, Boje 10-0-39-1, Crookes 3-0- Rindel 5-0-37-1

South Africa innings

• D J Cullinan c Fairbrother b Hick 69
• M J R Rindel c Brown b Giles 41
• J H Kallis run out (Hollioake) 14
• W J Cronje c Brown b Hollioake 67
• J N Rhodes not out 61
• D M Benkenstein not out 13

Extras (b 1, lb 8, w 7, nb 2) 18

Total (4 wickets, 46.4 overs) 283

Fall: 1-113 2-124 3-135 4-252

Did not bat: DN Crookes, PL Symcox, +MV Boucher, N Boje, AC Dawson.

Bowling: Martin 8-0-55-0, Austin 9-0-53-1, Ealham 7-0-51-0, Giles 10-1-41-1, Hick 7-0-28-1, Hollioake 4.4-0-41-1, Brown 1-0-5-0