Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of this Third ODI between South Africa and England in this 5 match series. Brandon Sayer, @Brandonsayer1, was your host for the start of the day, Ollie Emmerson, @OlliGing, took over for the middle stretch, and I've been Tom Simmonds, @TomSimmonds1999, taking you through the South African innings.
This South Africa victory has finally gotten them on the board in this ODI series, creating a new very exciting contest at the Wanderer's stadium on Friday, 12 February.
The man of the match is inevitable the magnificent centurion Quinton De Kock for his role in the Amla partnership and his rapid 135.
AB de Villiers rightly thinks that his side were deserved winners, but also feels that it was mainly down to the energy in his side in the field. He also called the Amla-De Kock partnership "unbelievable".
Eoin Morgan believes that his side we ahead by the halfway point, and that his bowlers need to go away and work on the basics again. He also stated he wants his side to bounce back quickly following this defeat.
Quinton De Kock will deservedly take the headlines tomorrow, his extremely entertaining century took the game away from England extremely quickly. The South African batsman has broken Virat Kohli's record for the youngest batsman to reach 10 ODI centuries, and we all know how good a record Kohli has gone on to have.
Despite Joe Root's finest efforts with a spectacular 125, and fifites from Alex Hales and Ben Stokes, it wasn't enough. England's bowlers never truly got going and South Africa put them to the sword. The record breaking partnership of 239 for South Africa meant that England were never truly in the game.
Well that has been an absolutely spectacular performance from South Africa, an record breaking opening partnership set up the first ever successful 300+ run chase in a day/night game at the Supersport Park.
South Africa Beat England By 7 Wickets- England Lead The Series 2-1.
Overs 47: SA 319-3 A harsh call from the umpires, a full toss from Stokes is just above waist height and the catch is put down. Du Plessis hits the free hit for 6, and the Proteas need just 1 to win. Du Plessis does it next ball, clipping it off his pads for a single.
South Africa Need 8 Runs To Win, From 24 Balls.
Overs 46: SA 311-3 Jordan has done nothing today to suggest he deserves to keep his place ahead of the waiting Stuart Broad for the next match, and it looks to be getting no better. Du Plessis latches onto another poor short ball and it's hammered away for four, before a very fine leg glance that beats the diving Buttler and runs away for four leg byes. And yet another wide from Jordan, just his slip catching keeping him in the side now,before he finally gets Amla caught behind. 10 from the over and a wicket.
AB de Villiers the new man in.
Hashim Amla 127 (130) c Buttler b Jordan
WICKET! Amla this time, a tired shot from Amla edges behind to Buttler, and the Proteas opener has to depart after an absolutely magnificent century that reminded the world just how good this guy is.
Overs 45: SA 301-2 Stokes almost gets a chance but the ball flies past Jordan to the midwicket boundary for four, moving Amla into the 120's. South Africa looking to end this quickly now. Another England wide from Stokes now. The dot balls from Stokes seem to be the only salvation for England now. The over ends with an absolutley beautiful wristy shot through point for four, Amla is looking like the batsman we all know he can be. 50 partnership now. 9 from the over.
Overs 44: SA 292-2 Almost for Jordan, Du Plessis almost clips the ball of his pads into the hands of Jason Roy at leg gully, then yorks Amla in front of his pads,but thats easily knocked away for a single. Du Plessis hits it harder this time, Roy had no chance and it races away for four. Yet another wide from Jordan to follow, although that looks to have clipped the pad and is a really unfortunate call. But Du Plessis just drives effortlessly for four. 11 from that over.
Chris Jordan Replaces Moeen Ali
Overs 43: SA 281-2 Stokes comes back into the attack and while the Durham paceman has been economical he hasn't looked like a wicket taker. Dots and singles seems to suffice the Proteas, but then Du Plessis charges and drives well down the ground for four, before running a single down to third man. 6 from the over.
Ben Stokes replaces Adil Rashid.
Moeen Ali 10-0-75-1 Econ Rate: 7.50
Overs 42: SA 275-2 Ali's turn to bowl his final over of his spell and Morgan's taking a risk with the field, he's inviting South Africa to take the off-spinner on. Ali doesn't get the slip Rashid got and now Amla edges through the slip and goes for four, followed by a magnificent shot over extra cover for six. 13 runs come from Ali's final over.
Adil Rashid 10-0-45-1 Econ Rate: 4.50
Overs 41: SA 262-2 Rashid now bowls out, gets an unlucky wide call, then a run out chance that with a direct hit would likely have seen Amla walking back to the pavilion. Rashid has bowled well his last few overs, but England needed to have gotten this standard of bowling much earlier in the game. 6 from the over.
Overs 40: SA 256-2 Ali bowling his penultimate over now. This as been a good over from England, but this bowling resurgence has come far too late to salvage anything from this game. Just four from the over.
Overs 39: SA 252-2 England are beginning to get the ball turning, but it's far too late, South Africa need less than a run a ball now.A LBW shout to finish the over,given not out. Just 3 from Rashid's penultimate over.
Overs 38: SA 249-2 Ali sees Amla coming down and tries to outfox him, but it becomes a horrible full toss and a no-ball, just a single from the free hit, then a solid six from Wiese. Followed by the Wiese wicket to end the over. 9 from the over.
Faf Du Plessis the new man in.
David Wiese 7 (4) b Ali
WICKET! I know, it's happened again. Wiese tries to follow up his massive six with a reverse sweep, but he misses and the ball crashes into his timbers.
Century! Amla finally make his century, he won't make the headlines like De Kock but he's played a very important knock for his side.
Overs 37: SA 240-1 Rashid has probably been the most threatening England bowler tonight,but to be fair he's been the best of a bad bunch. He finally draws a chance out of De Kock and it falls agonisingly short of Root, before he finally grabs the wicket England have been looking for. 2 runs and a wicket from the over.
David Wiese the new man in.
Quinton De Kock 135 (117) c Root b Rashid
WICKET! I promise you it has actually happened, just the ball before De Kock just misses Root, but this time he picks him out and its a good catch from the England fielder. A brlliant innings finally comes to an end.
Adil Rashid replaces Reece Topley.
South Africa 238-0 and cruising to this win, time for some drinks.
Overs 36: SA 238-0 Eoin Morgan desperately trying to keep South Africa guessing by turning back to his spinners. The South African batsmen still happy to just knock him arund however, there is absolutely no threat to South Africa at all. A beautifully placed cut from De Kock brings up yet another 4 for the Proteas. A single to end the over, 8 from it.
Moeen Ali replaces David Willey.
Overs 35: SA 230-0 Excellent running from Amla to get De Kock back on strike, even Root's direct hit couldn't stop Amla making it home. Amla takes a single to get himself back on strike, then crashes the next ball through the covers for four, then another four from a pull. 11 from the over. England seem to be set to suffer one of the biggest defeats ever in ODI cricket.
Overs 34: SA 219-0 A decent over from Willey, but there has been a loose ball in every over this innings and Willey's loose ball is down leg side and Amla flicks it over fine leg with ease, a big six. 12 from the over.
Overs 33: SA 207-0 Topley is immediately beginning to use his variations, but nothing seems to faze these two batsman, there is certainly a 10 wicket win on the cards. Then a brilliant clip off the pads from De Kock for four. This partnership upto 200 hundred now, then yet another four from De Kock, Topley's mix-ups simply aren't working, but at least he's trying something different. 11 from the over.
Reece Topley comes back into the attack, he replaces Ben Stokes.
Overs 32: SA 196-0 The left handed bowler doesn't seem to be going to change the fortunes of this England side however, a couple of nurdles before De Kock, latches onto a short ball and sends it miles into the staand. Willey then finally draws out an edge, but it doesn't carry to the man at long on, De Kock survives. 11 from the over.
David Willey replaces the struggling Chris Jordan.
Overs 31: SA 185-0 Another boundary for South Africa, a blistering pull shot from De Kock races to the boundary for four. A full toss follows, looks to be set for a four down to fine leg, before some spectacular work from Topley, just a single. A well worked four from Amla ends the over on a high note for South Africa. England still haven't adapted to the left hand-right hand combination. 11 from that over.
Overs 30: SA 174-0 A horrible full toss above waste height is correctly called as a no-ball, Amla can't capitalise on the free hit however as Jordan gets a dot ball. Then another wide on height this time, Jordan is bowling well but he's giving away far too many extras. Then a glorious straight drive from De Kock for four. This whole innings has been poor from Jordan. 8 from the over.
Overs 29: SA 166-0 A few singles from Stokes over, then a perfect yorker trapping De Kock into his crease. Then the opener makes his hundred before Amla plays and missed the last ball. 4 from the over.
CENTURY! A hundred for Quinton De Kock, his tenth ODI Century. He's played beautifully and kept England guessing. His stroke play is very easy on the eye.
Ben Stokes replaces Adil Rashid.
Overs 28: SA 162-0 A better over from Jordan, this partnership is now South Africa's highest 1st wicket partnership against England in ODIs since Hudson and G Kirsten set way back in 1995. Then an LBW shout and a run out chance all in the same ball. Best over so far from Jordan, until De Kock finally picks up on a slow,short ball hooking it for 4. 6 from the over.
Overs 27: SA 156-0 A well bowled over from Rashid, a few awkward looking shots from De Kock but no big shots. Just 2 from the over.
Overs 26: SA 154-0 Amla sees out the first ball before guiding Jordan's second beautifully down to third man for four. At this run-rate with these wickets in hand South Africa will walk home with this game. 7 from the over, but England have no reviews remaining
Correctly given Not Out, clipped the pad on the way through De Kock survives. No bat on it. Does cancel out the wide however.
England Review: Jordan strays down leg side, and there's a noise on it's way through to Buttler. Given Not Out.
Chris Jordan back into the attack now, replacing Moeen Ali.
Overs 25: SA 149-0 A rank full toss from Rashid and it's given the treatment for De Kock, a six bouncing on the rope. A couple of singles before De Kock whips a slightly short ball away for another boundary. 12 from the over.
Overs 24: SA 137-0 Ali surprisingly gets another over after his expensive last over. Not as expensive this time, a well placed sweep from De Kock for four, other than that just singles. 8 from the over, time for a change of pace surely.
Overs 23: SA 129-0 Amla gets a single to get him to fifty, before De Kock comepletely misses the slog sweep. Amla blocks out a very good ball from Rashid. 3 from the over. Required run-rate now down to around 5.6.
Fifty For Hashim Amla, not as quick as his partner but he's provided the perfect supporting role.
Overs 22: SA 126-0 Ali had started well, limiting the boundaries, but De Kock has picked him up here, a slog sweep and it's gone a long way onto the banks. Then a short pull through the same area for four. 12 from the over, Ali needs more flight on the ball.
Overs 21: SA 114-0 Lights seem to be taking effect now, a few from Rashid sliding through nicely, he seems to have settled into a nice rhythm now. Just singles from the over, 4 runs from it.
Overs 20: SA 110-0 A sharp bit of fielding from Jason Roy, and I'm really not sure Amla was safe if he had hit the timbers, then a big swing and miss from Amla. These two are looking to kick on and it could be the opening England are looking for. Just 4 from Ali's over.
Overs 19: SA 106-0 England are without a front line pacemen without Wood and Finn, meaning they are relying on the mystery ball from Rashid, although it doesn't seem to be coming any time soon. Good areas from Rashid though, 3 from the over.
South Africa 103-0 and it's time for a drinks break!
Overs 18: SA 103-0 South Africa bring up the hundred without loss, Ali really isn't posing any kind of threat to the batsman, feeling like a glorified net session right now, the rest of this game beginning to feel like a formality. 4 from the over.
Overs 17: SA 99-0 Some intelligent batting from De Kock is cancelled out by some really excellent fielding from Topley, keeping it to just 3. Far too easy for South Africa, England absolutely desperate for a wicket. 9 from the over.
Overs 16: SA 92-0 De Kock gets to his fifty, and these two Proteas openers are looking really comfortable to just knock Ali around for singles. Four from the over.
Fifty For Quinton De Kock, a run a ball fifty for the opener and he's beginning to take this game away from the visitors.
Overs 15: SA 88-0 Good work from Willey sweeping stops Rashid's first ball going for four, lack of bounce decievess Amla on the second, before he eases a single off the third. Even more good work from Willey, stops De Kock getting to fifty. A solid start from Rashid, just 4 from the over.
Adil Rashid replaces Ben Stokes
Overs 14: SA 84-0 Ali comes into the attack and is greeted with a gorgeous cut from De Kock for four, flight seems to be the key here for Ali. De Kock seems to be pretty comfortable with Ali's quicker balls, he must start getting it above the eye-line. 8 from Ali's first over.
Moeen Ali replaces Chris Jordan
Overs 13: SA 76-0 So far Stokes is looking like the most economical bowler in the England line-up, but no-one's really threatening the Proteas' batsmen. Just the four singles from the over.
Overs 12: SA 72-0 The over was going so well for Jordan, but then De Kock picks up a slightly short ball and De Kock puts it miles back in to the stands. Just that one six from the over though, better from Jordan. Must be time for the spinners soon.
Overs 11: SA 65-0 Hashim Amla really moving around his crease now, not letting any bowler settle into a line. Very poor fielding from Adil Rashid on the square leg boundary, ruins what was a tidy over from Stokes, Amla welcomes the bonus boundary though. 7 from the over.
End Of The First Powerplay- SA 58-0
Overs 10: SA 57-0 Amla going well now, strides across his stumps and plays Jordan perfectly through the covers for four, 50 up for SA. Wide ball to follow the boundary. Another boundary immediately follows, clipped off Amla's pads for four. England starting to fall behind in this game. 11 from the over.
Chris Jordan replacing Reece Topley now.
Overs 9: SA 46-0 A good over from Stokes, sees Amla walking across his stumps serves him a good bouncer in reply. The threat of thunderstorms getting increasingly worrying now. Great over from the all-rounder, 1 from it.
Overs 8: SA 45-0 Another leg side wide from Topley first up, before a bit of vicious bounce almost catches out De Kock, he recovers well though pulling solidly for four. A dot, then a simply magnificent straight drive for four, best shot in world cricket that. Two singles end the over. A poor over from Topley, 11 from it.
Overs 7: SA 34-0 A single from Stokes' first ball, and another from his second, and again form his third. Dot from the fourth then a horrible leg side wide. Amla then nearly chops on to his own stumps. 4 from the over.
Ben Stokes into the attack, he replaces Willey.
Overs 6: SA 30-0 Topley starting well again, but as soon as there is an inch of width, De Kock's back on the drive for four. A single down to fine leg and Amla blocks out the last delivery. 5 from the over.
Overs 5: SA 25-0 It had been tidy from Willey, but he overpitches by a couple of inches and Amla drives straight back down the ground for four.Could've had another but some great work in the inner circle from Stokes keeps it to a dot. Then a loose leg side delivery gets the treatment it deserves, another 4. 8 from the over.
Overs 4: SA 17-0 Strange start to the over, down the leg side from Topley, no run but De Kock's caught wandering and very nearly ran out. Strays a fraction too straight and De Kock puts him away for four, followed by the perfect yorker, a real mixed bag this over, before a close LBW call, no review taken. 4 from the over.
Overs 3: SA 13-0 A much better over from Willey, De Kock struggling to get him away this time. A single gets De Kock off strike, a poor misfield from Jordan. No run off the last ball. 1 from the over.
Overs 2: SA 12-0 A nice tidy over from Topley keeping the line nice and tight to Amla, slight hint of width however and he's crashed through the covers for four. 4 from the over.
Reece Topley bowling from the Pavilion End
Overs 1: SA 8-0 A tidy start for Willey, bowling a good line and length, ruined though by two beautiful cover drives from De Kock for four each time. 8 from the over.
David Willey to open the bowling, Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock to open the batting. De Kock on strike.
SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS
The players and umpire have retaken the field. Its time for the chase.
A magnificent innings from Joe Root. He scored 125 at a very good rate. It was the Yorkshireman's seventh One-Day Hundred, and it put him upto fourth on the all time ODI century makers list for England.
Before South Africa begin their chase its worth taking a minute to reflect on England's performance and more specifically Joe Root.
End Of Innings: ENG 318-8 Good bowling from the Proteas limits England's process, but a great fifty from Stokes and useful cameos from Willey and Rashid got England to a formidable total.
Overs 43: ENG 269-5 That wicket brings an end to a smashing partnership, in an over where England got 12 runs. Moeen Ali to the crease now.
Wicket! Run-out, mix up between Root and Stokes as the former strikes into the stumps at the other end, both were stranded, and Root departs for 125.
Overs 42: ENG 257-4 Behardien into the attack, but the away side are still going strong. Stokes with a beautiful reverse sweep for four, before putting Root back on strike. Eight off the over.
Overs 41: ENG 249-4 Stokes has had enough of this waiting around, and clubs a six immediately after the review failed for South Africa. A slight run out chance from the last ball of the over, wasted.
NOT OUT: That pitched outside leg, so the decision stops there.
South Africa appealing an LBW decision, Rabada on Stokes. Here we go...
Overs 40: ENG 236-4 Another over, another six from Root, punishing Tahir with a fantastic stroke. Only seven from that over though, and England now have 10 overs left to push past 300.
Overs 39: ENG 229-4 Another profitable over, and Root is really taking the pressure off those around him after Buttler and Morgan were dismissed cheaply. The last six balls included another six, and a four from England's century maker.
Overs 38: ENG 218-4 Groundhog Day was last week, right? Another full toss from Tahir, and another booming six from Root. Nine off the over.
100 for Joe Root! His fourth in the last 11 months, Root tucks it down the legside, and takes a single to move to 100* from 95 balls. Little celebration from the brilliant batsman, who will now look to kick on towards the end of the innings.
Overs 37: ENG 209-4 England pass the 200 mark, Stokes ending the over with a perfect four. Root is one away from his century, and it should come next.
Overs 36: ENG 199-4 Better over from the tourists with nine coming from it, including Root smashing Tahir for six runs, taking advantage of a full toss.
Overs 35: ENG 190-4 Root edges closer to his century with a couple of nicely timed shots into the onside, before Stokes faces his first two balls to end the over. No runs yet for him.
Overs 34: ENG 187-4 England score just four of the over but lose the wicket of Morgan, who chips the ball to Amla. Bad innings from the captain.
Wicket! Morgan out. Wiese the bowler. Amla the catcher.
Overs 33: ENG 184-3 England manage to get three singles off the over. The final three balls of the over Morgan tries to over hit the ball, but doesn't manage to make a good connection with the ball.
Overs 32: ENG 181-3 Root breaks the shackles by hitting a six down the ground of Wiese. The batsmen manage to score three singles from the other five deliveries. England are 181-3 and it's time for drinks!
Wiese comes back on to replace Morkel.
Overs 31: ENG 172-3 Four runs come from the over. Root manages to get a couple with a chip over the fielder at mid on. Morgan still hasn't got to grips with how the pitch is playing. The pitch seems to have some variable bounce in it.
Overs 30: ENG 168-3 Morkel bowls another really tight over and only concedes two runs. Morgan tries his best to try and get the scoreboard going, but can't find the gaps. Root is on 70 from 70 balls currently.
Overs 29: ENG 166-3 Tahir bowls a tight over and only concedes two runs. Morgan tries his best to get Tahir away, but is struggling to get ball away at the minute.
Tahir comes back on to bowl and replaces Rabada
Overs 28: ENG 164-3 Morkel bowls a good over with only two singles coming from it. The partnership between Root and Morgan will be key for England to what score they get. They need to consolidate for a few overs.
Overs 27: ENG 162-3 Rabada does the job for South Africa with only one run and two wickets from the over. Rabada got Hales out after the batsmen went for the big shot, and could only hit it up in the air. Buttler came in, but was out first ball when he flicked Rabada straight to Duminy. Buttler will be disappointed, but now South Africa will feel their back in the game.
Eoin Morgan is the next man in.
Wicket! Buttler is it out for a first ball duck. Rabada again the bowler, Duminy catches.
Jos Buttler is the next man in.
Wicket! Hales is out for 65 of 73 balls. Rabada the bowler. Morkel the catcher.
Overs 26: ENG 161-1 England have really put the foot down and get 14 off the over without any risks. Root gets two boundaries from the over. Hales get another boundary in the over. Two singles from the other three balls in the over.
Mourne Morkel comes back into the attack to replace Wiese.
Overs 25: ENG 147-1 England score 10 of the over without taking any risks. Root once again showed his intent by advancing and getting a four. A couple of wides from Rabada in the over give a couple of runs to England's score.
Overs 24: ENG 137-1 Root gets another boundary in the over, but this one was streaky with an inside edge which goes past fine leg for four. The batsmen only manage to get two singles from the other five deliveries.
Fifty for Root and Hales.
Overs 23: ENG 131-1 Six runs come from the over without any risks. Alex Hales is the first to bring up his fifty from 60 balls with a single. Root then in the same over gets his fifty from 53 balls. Great partnership between these two batsmen. It's now time to put their feet down and go big.
Rabada comes back into the attack to replace Tahir
Overs 22: ENG 125-1 Root shows his intent by hitting the first ball of the over for six. The batsmen get two singles from the next three balls. Root then edges the fifth ball which de Kock drops, and the ball goes for four. Good intent from both batsmen.
Overs 21: ENG 113-1 A big over finally arrives for England as they score 14 from the over. Hales shows his intent by scoring two and three from the second and third ball off the over. Hales then scores two fours in a row to end the over. England have put their foot down by he looks of it.
Overs 20: ENG 99-1 Seven from the over again for England. Root smashed the fourth ball of the over for a boundary, while the batsmen once again knocked it around and scored three singles from the other five balls.
Overs 19: ENG 92-1 A much better over for England sees them get seven runs. Root hit a good boundary from the fourth ball to release the pressure. The batsmen get three singles from the other five balls.
Overs 18: ENG 85-1 Only three singles from the over again. The partnership between Root and Hales has now reached 50. It's a good platform for England to build on and hopefully get the score up to 300.
Overs 17: ENG 83-1 The South African bowlers are starting to tighten the screw. Three singles come from the over, and it's clear that the English batsmen are getting annoyed because they can't get the ball away. 83-1 after 17 overs and its time for a drinks break!
Overs 16: ENG 80-1 Only three singles from the over. The other three deliveries are well hit by the England batsmen, but all are well stopped by the South African fielders.
Overs 15: ENG 77-1 Hales gets a single from Tahir's first ball. Root defends the next ball before striking the third ball down the ground for a single. Hales blocks the fourth ball before playing a good off drive fifth ball which went for four. Hales ends the over with a block.
Imran Tahir replaces Mourne Morkel in the bowling attack
Overs 14: ENG 71-1 Root gets a single from Wiese's first ball. Hales struggles to get the next two balls away and plays out two dot balls. Hales then gets a single next ball. Root breaks the shackles with a four next ball after advancing down the pitch and placing it past mid-on. The final ball of the over was a dot ball.
Change of bowling for South Africa sees David Wiese come on toe replace Kyle Abbott
Overs 13: ENG 65-1 Morkel began the over well with two dot balls. Root then gets two from the third ball after a check drive. Root then gets a single from the fourth ball before Hales plays out two dot balls to finish the over.
Overs 12: ENG 62-1 Abbott begins the over well by bowling a dot ball first ball, but gets his next ball wrong, and bowls a wide. The next ball is a dot ball before two singles in a row follow. The last two balls of the over are dot balls.
Overs 11: ENG 59-1 Morkel only concedes three singles from the over. Hales begins the over by driving sweetly, but hits it straight at the man before getting a single next ball. Root plays out a dot ball before getting a single. Hales ends the over with a dab down to third man for a single.
Overs 10: ENG 56-1 Hales gets a single first ball which was a risk as Hales was almost run out going for the run. Root played out two dot balls in a row, before hitting the fourth ball of the over for four by advancing down the pitch and smashing it over mid on. Root defends well for the fifth ball before cutting well from the final ball of the over to get an easy two.
Overs 9: ENG 49-1 Morkel begins the over well with three dot balls. Root gets a single from the 4th ball of the over. Hales mistimes a short ball over the keepers head fifth ball which goes for a boundary. Hales scores a single from the final ball of the over.
Overs 8: ENG 43-1 Hales plays out two dots in a row before getting a single from the third ball. Root also plays out two dot balls before getting a single from the final ball of the over.
Overs 7: ENG 41-1 Hales hits a good shot for a two from Morkel's first ball, before he bowler follows up with a dot ball. Hales hits a single next ball, and then Root hits a single to get of the mark second ball. Hales plays out a dot fifth ball, before guiding the ball down to third man from the final ball for a single.
Mourne Morkel replaces Kyle Abbott in the bowling attack
Joe Root is the next man in
Wicket! Jason Roy run out for 20 off 23 balls. Combination of Morkel and De Kock.
Overs 6: ENG 36-1 Rabada starts his third over with a dot ball, before Roy hits the second ball for a boundary with a lovely shot. Two dots follow that. Roy then hits the fifth ball down to third man, and tries to run a two, but is short and was run out by Morkel and De Kock. Root is greeted with a good short ball first ball.
Overs 5: ENG 31-0 Abbott starts his over well with a dot ball. Hales finally gets his first boundary next ball with a lovely steer down to third man. The next two balls are dots, before fifth ball Hales gets another boundary with a lovely cut shot. The finally ball is also a dot.
Overs 4: ENG 23-0 Roy defends the first two balls of Rabada's over, but third ball he connects with a short ball which he hits for four. Roy and Hales both take a single in the next two balls, before Rabada ends the over with a dot ball.
Overs 3: ENG 16-0 Abbott starts the over well with three dot balls, before Roy dances the pitch and smashes the ball over mid-on for four. Roy takes a single next ball, while Hales plays out a dot ball to end the over.
Overs 2: ENG 11-0 Roy smashes Rabada's first ball for four, before taking a single next ball. Rabada bowls three dot balls after that to Hales, but last ball he's bowls a bouncer which goes over the keepers head for four byes.
Rabada opens the bowling from the other end
Overs 1: ENG 2-0 Abbott starts by bowling a wide first ball, before bowling five dot balls. Roy ends the over by scoring a single.
Kyle Abbott to open the bowling for South Africa. Roy on strike for England.
ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS
The players and umpires are on their way out to middle to start this intriguing third ODI. Can England win the series or can South Africa bounce back? We're about to find out.
England team: Roy, Hales, Root, Morgan, Buttler, Stokes, Ali, Rashid, Jordan, Willey, Topley.
South Africa team: Amla, De Kock, du Plesis, de Villiers, Duminy, Behardien, Wiese, Rabada, Abbott, Morkel, Tahir.
Team News: England are unchanged from the first two odis, while South Africa make one change with David Wiese coming in for batsmen Riley Roussow.
Morgan wins the toss and England will bat first
Both captains are out in the middle. Here comes the toss..
With the weather having played such a part in the first game of this series, it would be unwise not to take a look ahead of this game. The Centurion is known for a risk of thunderstorms at this time of year, and that risk is present today. However, forecasters predict that there won’t be anything bad enough to cause a non-result, but there could be some damage done to the amount of overs possible for play.
Unsurprisingly, Buttler has also been snapped up by an IPL team in the past week, with the Mumbai Indians, coached by Australian legend Ricky Ponting, paying £386,000 for his services.
A polar opposite to the first, the second ODI was a much tighter affair, with the amount of runs scored being far lower. Some fantastic bowling from Reece Topley saw England limit South Africa to 262/7 from their 50 overs, with the seamer claiming 4-50. England’s run-chase was well anchored, with Alex Hales playing a measured innings on his way to 99, before tragically getting out. However, the Proteas did grow into the game and took a couple of quick wickets to ensure that the visitors needed a tricky looking 29 from their final five overs. Buttler had other ideas though, starring again as he hit 48* from 28, helping his team to a five wicket victory with time to spare.
The first ODI, played just five days ago, was one all about run-scoring. Jos Buttler was the star of the show, hitting 105 from just 76 balls. The likes of Jason Roy, Ben Stokes and Joe Root all made useful contributions too, as England scored 399 runs from their 50 overs, their second highest total ever in a 50 over match. Whilst the Proteas made an amicable reply, they were always facing a losing battle, and were 39 runs behind via the Duckworth-Lewis method when the teams were forced off due to rain, ensuring that the tourists claimed a stunning win. One positive for the hosts was the innings of Quinton de Kock, who was not out on 138* from 96 balls when the rain came.
England have, of course, already tasted success on their tour of South Africa, which began all the way back on Boxing Day in Durban. They would go on to take the four match Test series, winning 2-1, and they’ve certainly taken their form into the limited overs form of the game.
With this being the third game of a five match series, it’s a little surprising to know that things could already be decided following today’s game. Having played some excellent cricket so far, on the tour as a whole, England are already 2-0 up, and would take an unassailable 3-0 lead should they complete victory today.
Hello and welcome to VAVEL UK’s live ball-by-ball commentary of today’s third One Day International fixture between South Africa and England. We’re still a little way from the toss at SuperSport Park, Centurion, with the first ball set to be bowled at around 11:30. However, do stick with us as we build up to what should prove to be an eventful game.