Good bowling by England and especially their spin unit have restricted the Proteas to 256-7 after 50 overs in the third and final ODI of the series at the Wanderers on Sunday.
England skipper Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to have a bowl first as the visitors made three changes from the team that played in Cape Town and Durban earlier this week.
Matthew Parkinson, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes all dropped out with Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood drafted in – the latter making his debut in ODI cricket.
Coach Mark Boucher only made one change to his team from Friday as paceman Lungi Ngidi returned in the place of Bjorn Fortuin.
The Proteas made a slow and cautious start with Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks weathering the early attack of Tom Curran and Mahmood with Curran especially putting De Kock under pressure in his first two overs.
Mahmood then made the first breakthrough when he picked up his maiden ODI wicket, dismissing Hendricks with a beautiful delivery that nipped into the right-hander and into his stumps.
Temba Bavuma strolled out to a load ovation from the Wanderers crowd and he immediately kicked on with his fine form as he and De Kock raced to another 50-run stand.
Bavuma ticked along nicely until he was trapped in front by Rashid for 29 despite UltraEdge not being available in his review of the decision.
Confusion then struck around the ground when Van der Dussen was given out lbw with his very first ball off Rashid, but due to the lack of technology in the Bavuma dismissal the umpires didn’t regard it as a valid review, which meant Van der Dussen was able to use it his advantage.
And it came as a big help as the delivery was missing down leg-side, unfortunately Van der Dussen couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity when he was bowled by Moeen Ali in the very next over.
The two spinners began to cause the Proteas problems as the run-rate slowed down a bit.
De Kock, though, battled to his 25th half-century as the Proteas surpassed the 100-run mark after 25 overs.
But, leg-spinner Rashid had the final say when he pitched up a perfect delivery, which the left-hander missed, knocking his off stump out of the ground.
ALSO READ: CSA and SACA agree on restructuring process
A rather poor effort by the skipper but gone for a well-played 69, although a higher score would’ve meant a great deal to the Proteas’ ultimate total.
Jon-Jon Smuts looked good out in the middle as he tried to build towards a respectable score but a horrible mixup between himself and David Miller saw Smuts run out after a good diving stop by Tom Banton at midwicket.
Smuts falling short at the wicketkeeper’s end for 31.
Andile Phehlukwayo was the next batsman to go when he tried to reverse-sweep Rashid but the flight of the ball beat him and he was given out lbw by umpire Gregory Brathwaite for 14.
Beuran Hendricks then also fell victim to a run out when Miller turned him for a second run but Morgan’s throw to the non-striker’s end was too quick for the fast bowler.
Miller, though, turned on the accelerator with a few big shots as he cruised to his 13th ODI half-century.
Him and Lutho Sipamla saw out the innings with the Proteas passing 250 with Miller finishing not out on 69 from 53 deliveries.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (captain, wicketkeeper), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Jon-Jon Smuts, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi.
England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Joe Denly, Tom Banton, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
