England suffered a further blow ahead of Sunday's third one-dayer when Kevin Pietersen (groin) was ruled out.
Critically, Pietersen and Bell fell either side of lunch to eliminate any chance of England somehow avoiding defeat.
Pietersen put on 60 with captain Paul Collingwood as England cruised home against the defending champions.
Owais Shah then showed again his tremendously strong wrist-play as he and Pietersen added 66.
Captain Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood are all currently averaging under 30 against Pakistan.
Pietersen was dropped twice and Trott once and they will resume their partnership on Saturday morning.
But for me, the one individual who stood out above the others was Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen scored 153 runs in the first two Ashes Tests, at an average of 38.
Team-mate Kevin Pietersen had suggested that the IPL would have given England's bowlers valuable Twenty20 experience.
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South Africa began well but Pietersen's off-spin and the recalled Steve Harmison's pace struck back.
Pietersen now averages 67 in the tournament, second only to India's Rohit Sharma (84).
Flintoff helped himself to another wicket as Pietersen strove to finish off the game.
Pietersen in particular signalled his intent for the tour with a superb display of batting.
The partnership between Cook and Kevin Pietersen appeared to dispel any fears of a collapse.
Pietersen needs help, he's not as experienced in Indian conditions as many other players.
Pietersen played with unusual restraint after lunch, with 17 overs between his first and second boundaries.
But Smith (33) and Pietersen (29) held firm to give the tourists a chance of victory.
Pietersen had also worn a knee brace in practice at various points during the series.
He also suggested that Pietersen may be a candidate for captaining the Royal Challengers.
Harmison's recall is thought to have been heavily influenced by new captain Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen tried to dominate the innocuous looking spinner Kyle McCallan but was smartly caught at mid-wicket.
New dad Kevin Pietersen made 42 not out as they eased home with 24 balls left.
It is a risk Clarke is unwilling to contemplate for the likes of Flintoff and Pietersen.
Pietersen will fill the problem position, one he has not occupied in 110 previous one-day internationals.
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"Yuvraj has played a fantastic game again today, the boy's playing good cricket, " said Pietersen.
"To be honest, the injury plays on my mind all day and every day, " Pietersen added.
"What happened to me for a couple of weeks really, really hurt me, " said Pietersen.
With that in mind, Ganguly sounded a note of caution for Pietersen and Flintoff.
Pietersen said the car was provided by his friend, the former Australian spinner Shane Warne.
Eventually the left-hander was out for 63, caught by Kevin Pietersen off the bowling of Broad.
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