One of the great sights of the game is a gifted batsman taking on a genuine fast bowler at the peak of his ability.
Steyn charged in with rhythm and confidence. The faster he bowled on the bouncy Kensington Oval pitch, the quicker the ball disappeared off the inspired Kevin Pietersen's bat.
Twice in the contest at crucial stages — in the early overs and just after the half-way mark, Pietersen dismantled Steyn with rousing strokes of footwork and balance.
Man-of-the-Match Pietersen's 33-ball 53 proved the decisive effort of the match. Match-winners such as him come rare.
Defending 168 with resolve and commitment after electing to bat, England was a runaway winner by 39 runs on Saturday.
Pietersen will now return home for the birth of his child before returning to the West Indies in time for the semi-finals.
With two wins from an equal number of games in Super Eights, England is on the verge of entering the semifinals. South Africa, with a win in two matches, plays Pakistan in what could be a crucial last game.
On the ball
Paul Collingwood's team was on the ball. Indeed, England gave little away with some tight bowling and swift fielding.
South Africa crumbled under the stress. Choked for runs, the South Africans were unable to build partnerships; the key to success.
England's attack is a varied and balanced one. There is a good blend of pacemen — here Ryan Sidebottom brings with him the left-armer's angle — and off-spinner Graeme Swann and left-arm spinner Michael Yardy are very different bowlers.
Unable to get the scoreboard moving — South Africa was 19 for one after four overs — a desperate Kallis could not keep an attempted cover-drive off a fuller length delivery from the lanky Stuart Broad down.
Yardy, who is distinctly quicker through the air, removed Herschelle Gibbs when Ryan Sidebottom, running with his back to the ball from short fine-leg, pulled off a fine catch off a top-edge.
Swann varied his pace and trajectory from the other end. Graeme Smith, miscuing a sweep, was held at deep mid-wicket. Soon, Yardy, bowling from round the wicket to the left-handed Albie Mokel, got one to straighten to hit the stumps even as the batsman, playing down the wrong line, stood static at the crease.
The left-handed Jean Paul Duminy stroked a few face saving runs even as Sidebottom, on target, cut through the tail. At the end of it all, England celebrated a surprisingly comprehensive victory.
England's gains
There were a few gains for England. Young paceman Tim Bresnen bowled with aggression and speed without losing accuracy. And Broad got the ball to climb off the surface. Eventually, it was a good team performance.
In the England innings, Michael Lumb was prised out by a quicker, fuller ball from Johan Botha. The off-spinner was the outstanding bowler for South Africa.
Pietersen joined Craig Kieswetter and England was up and running. Pietersen, fleet-footed, moved with the ease of a ballet dancer. He was fluent off either foot and his rapier-like drives and flicks darted through the gaps.
He counter-attacked Steyn, blasting the paceman through covers, whipping him, driving him through the straight field and dumping a slower ball into the stands.
Kieswetter (41 off 42), less elegant, came up with a few punishing strokes himself and the second wicket pair added a vital 94.
South Africa came back in the last quarter of the innings with paceman Charl Langeveldt sending down precise yorkers.
It was England, though, that had the final say.
