Updated at\u00a013.41 EDT<\/p>\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/James_Wallace.png\")
James Wallace<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll leave you with the words of Jacob Bethell who got the monkey off his back with a first international century, announcing himself \u2013 as if you didn\u2019t know already \u2013 as a special talent.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t listen to what people say to be honest. It was nothing to do with other people – I wanted it for myself and the team. It was a great feeling, an addicting feeling and hopefully more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
A thumping win for England today but ultimately a series loss and plenty to ponder. Harry Brook and his men will look to level things up by winning the IT20 series \u2013 that gets underway in Cardiff on Wednesday and we\u2019ll be here to OBO all the thrills and spills.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s us done for today though. Thanks for your company, goodbye.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.17 EDT<\/p>\n The captains have their say:<\/p>\n Harry Brook: <\/p>\n It was the ultimate performance, we were awesome with the bat and the bowling speaks for itself. On a good wicket like that, no reason we can\u2019t get 400-450 with seven opening batters in the side. Bethell is good against spin and left-arm spin which means they have to hold their main threat back. Rooty is phenomenal and Jos can take teams apart. Jof was bowling rockets! To have that in your side\u2026 it\u2019s a frightening attack. We\u2019re a team that want to keep moving forward, what\u2019s happened in the past is behind us now.\u201d<\/p>\n Temba Bavuma:<\/p>\n The calf is sore now, I\u2019ll know properly when I get back home. It was a poor showing for us, things went terribly wrong, we\u2019ll have a debrief. After how we finished off in Australia, this is what we wanted to avoid. We dropped chances that were below our standard, a display like that doesn\u2019t do us justice.<\/p>\n Chasing 400-plus, there\u2019s no real formula. They put us under pressure, led by Archer, and we were a batter down. We didn\u2019t have any answers to everything they threw at us. There are lots of positives to take from the series – coming to England with a fairly inexperienced side, we wouldn\u2019t want today\u2019s performance to diminish that. There are shining moments so we\u2019ll try to highlight those. They can\u2019t be wiped away by one performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jofra Archer is named player of the match for his mesmerising spell of fast bowling.<\/p>\n Before I bowled a ball I thought it would be difficult… I didn\u2019t do anything different, I tried to hit the pitch hard. I do what I do for the team, got to get up and do it, even if you have a bad day. It feels good, didn\u2019t think I\u2019d have played this one, but to play three games in a row means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Keshav Maharaj is named player of the series:<\/p>\n All the hard work is coming to fruition. Grateful to contribute to winning performances. The three venues posed three different conditions, tried to vary pace and angles on the crease. Kudos to England batters. We have good skills and pace, we have areas to improve. Back to drawing board but lots of positives, beating England 2-1 in own conditions. Want to start next series well. Win each ball and over at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Joe Root is named ODI Player of the Summer:<\/p>\n It was good, it was just key to put partnerships together on that kind of surface. There was some wind going across the ground so myself and Beth (Jacob Bethell) made sure one of us was making the most of that. Once you get 100 partnerships together, it\u2019s hard to slow the game down when you\u2019re not taking wickets and we took advantage of that really well.\u201d<\/p>\n On his partnership with Bethell: <\/p>\n There wasn\u2019t much helping going on! He knew exactly what he was doing. He is wise beyond his years. He is very clear on how he wants to play his cricket and he\u2019s got wonderful options of where he wants to take the bowlers down and against different bowling types.<\/p>\n I\u2019m so pleased for him, I\u2019ve known him for a long time now so to play an innings like that was fantastic. Hopefully he will go from strength to strength, keep entertaining and keep playing match-winning knocks for England like that in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Articulate and humble as ever, Root then spoke about where he and the team are at in white ball cricket:<\/p>\n More than anything, as soon as you start feeling content with where you\u2019re at, you will get caught out. Everyone will catch up with you so it\u2019s important to keep looking to get better, to keep improving and adding to your game. The more you play, the more information there is on you and the opposition can use that against you. So you\u2019ve got to keep looking to get better but also using that experience.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll keep working on little things, tinkering here and there. It\u2019s been fun and I think today is a glimpse of what this team is capable of in this format. The more we play together, the more games we get under our belt then we will get more comfortable and we will see more results like today.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A topsy turvy series comes to a close after three matches, South Africa will lick their significant wounds by lifting the series trophy after a 2-1 win, their first in England since 1998.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>SOUTH AFRICA 72 ALL OUT – ENGLAND WIN BY 342 runs!<\/p>\n It really doesn\u2019t get more emphatic than that, South Africa capitulate to 72 all out as Bosch reverse laps Rashid straight to Brydon Carse at backward point. England seal the dead rubber by over three hundred runs, the biggest victory margin in ODIs.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer will take the match ball home \u2013 he was truly scintillating with 4-18 that destroyed the Proteas\u2019 top order. He\u2019ll duke it out with Centurions Root and Bethell for the player of the match gong.<\/p>\n An absolute pasting. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.35 EDT<\/p>\n 20th over: South Africa 72-8 (Bosch 20, Burger 2) South Africa managed to avoid their lowest ever defeat in ODIs but only just\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19th over: South Africa 69-8 (Bosch 19, Burger 1) South Africa draw level with their lowest ODI score as Corbin Bosch lofts Rashid over long on for a one bounce four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.19 EDT<\/p>\n 18th over: South Africa 62-8 (Bosch 13, Burger 0) Jofra wants his five-fer! He comes back for his eighth over but his first ball is too full and duly larrupped down the ground by Bosch. A short ball hits Bosch on the lid and Buttler jumps to take the catch high in one hand behind the stumps, England review but it was nowhere near the bat. No five-fer for Archer as of yet and confirmation that Temba Bavuma won\u2019t come out to bat so getting this last wicket is his only chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Codi Yusuf b Rashid 5 (South Africa 57-8)<\/p>\n Rashid slips in the googly and Yusuf is bowled!<\/p>\n 17th over: South Africa 57-8 (Bosch 8, Burger 0)<\/p>\n Codi Yusuf is bamboozled by Adil Rashid. Photograph: Andy Kearns\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.18 EDT<\/p>\n 16th over: South Africa 52-7 (Bosch 8, Yusuf 1) Overton is worked for three singles as South Africa look to get to up to and past their lowest ever ODI score of 69. <\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15th over: South Africa 49-7 (Bosch 6, Yusuf 0) Cody Yusuf is the new batter, the sun comes out in Southampton just to mock the Proteas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Keshav Maharaj c Root b Rashid 17 (South Africa 49-7)<\/p>\n Rashid does in fact replace Archer and he picks up a classic leg-spinner\u2019s dismissal off his second ball, flight, spin, edge and pouched by Centurion Root at slip. South Africa are well and truly staring down the barrel of their largest defeat by runs in ODI cricket history.<\/p>\n Adil Rashid gets in on the act as another wicket falls. Photograph: Adam Davy\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.05 EDT<\/p>\n Time for drinks. Which is apt because I\u2019ve just read this entertaining missive from Liam Gallagher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14th over: South Africa 48-6 (Bosch 5, Maharaj 17) Bosch is dropped by Buttler behind the stumps off Overton\u2019s first ball! A tickle off the glove and Buttler dives too far down the leg side the ball hitting his wrists and then the turf. Overton was already haring off in celebration, a bad miss from Buttler and he looks to have injured himself in the process, though it could just be his pride that is stinging \u2013 he\u2019s fine to continue. Maharaj runs an upper cut over the slips off the final ball to pick up another boundary.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13th over: South Africa 43-6 (Bosch 4, Maharaj 13) Archer has three slips and a short leg in place, he pushes Maharaj back with some short stuff. Maharaj does well to defend the last two and survive the over\u2026 Archer has a word with Brook and he wants one more! Great to see. Jamie Overton is coming on to replace Brydon Carse.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: South Africa 42-6 (Bosch 4, Maharaj 13) Maharaj hits back with a drive down the ground and a cart of Carse over midwicket for SIX. Archer is coming back for his seventh over on the spin.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: South Africa 28-6 (Bosch 4, Maharaj 0) Archer sends down an unplayable delivery to Bosch, the jaffa to end all jaffas. Pitched straight and nipped away late at high pace, beating the edge and skimming the stumps. Bosch does well to get on the front foot and drive the next ball through the covers for four. Archer signals to Brook at the end of the over\u2026 he\u2019s saying he isn\u2019t done yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10th over: South Africa 24-6 (Bosch 0, Maharaj 0) A heavily padded Keshav Maharaj arrives in the middle and is clanged on the thumb first ball by Carse. He shakes it like a Polaroid picture and winces as the over ends. Jofra is coming back for another, you try prising the ball from his mitts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Dewald Brevis c Overton b Carse 6 (South Africa 24-6)<\/p>\n Gone gone gone! Brevis cuts Carse away for SIX over point but the bowler has the last laugh, drawing Brevis forward and enticing the edge, Jamie Overton juggles the catch at third slip but takes it in the end. Carnage.<\/p>\n Jamie Overton holds on to a catch to dismiss Dewald Brevis. Incredible stuff from England. Photograph: Justin Tallis\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.36 EDT<\/p>\n 9th over: South Africa 18-5 (Brevis 0, Bosch 0) Bish Bash Corbin Bosch is the new batter. He lets his first ball from Archer slam into his shoulder without offering a shot. That is going to sting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.32 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Tristan Stubbs c Jacks b Archer 10 (South Africa 18-5)<\/p>\n Archer has another and Will Jacks gets his redemption! Archer is over 90mph with the first four balls of the over and Stubbs gets an edge to the fifth that loops to Jacks in the slips and he makes no mistake this time. South Africa are 18-5. This has been an outrageously good spell of fast bowling from Jofra Archer. he has four wickets for five runs in five overs! He\u2019s had a chance dropped off him too!<\/p>\n What is happening??? Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.31 EDT<\/p>\n 8th over: South Africa 18-4 (Stubbs 10, Brevis 0)Stubbs drives a full ball from Carse down the ground for four. They\u2019ve not had much to drive so far this afternoon. DROP! Will Jacks spills a straightforward chance in the slips, Stubbs got a healthy edge and it flew at knee height but in and out of Jacks\u2019 hands. That would\u2019ve made it 18-5!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.26 EDT<\/p>\n 7th over: South Africa 12-4 (Stubbs 5, Brevis 0)\u201cWe decide the series by aggregating the scores over the three matches, right?\u201d says Andrew Goudie. Archer takes the edge of Stubbs\u2019 bat as the batter fences unconvincingly at a back of a length ball, the catch falling just short of Will Jacks at second slip. Close! Stubbs edges over the slips this time! \u201cExhilarating fast bowling\u201d drawls Eoin Morgan on the tv commentary.<\/p>\n Richard Liddle\u2019s appetite is suitable whetted:<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot wait for that first test in Perth. Good luck to the Australian top 3 with that level of intensity. (Whoever they may be)\u201c<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.19 EDT<\/p>\n 6th over: South Africa 8-4 (Stubbs 2, Brevis 0) It\u2019s a bit gloomier than earlier and the pitch looks to have come to life. It looks completely different to the one that England racked them up on and hour or so ago. Carse beats the edge of Brevis\u2019 bat and narrowly misses the off stump. The next ball is slammed into the batter\u2019s box and he has to take a breather. England have bowled very well, they have South Africa well and truly pinned at the moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: South Africa 7-4 (Stubbs 1, Brevis 0) Dewald Brevis is the new man\u2026 the whole slip cordon and the keeper go up first ball as Archer beats the edge! The bowler is half-hearted in his appeal though, he knows it didn\u2019t get the tickle. Archer then finishes his over with another snorter that spits off the pitch and flies past the edge. Brilliant fast bowling, Archer has three wickets for one run from his three overs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.11 EDT<\/p>\n I can\u2019t help but feel I\u2019m having the best of the two OBO stints, sorry Tanya!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Matthew Breetzke c \u2020Buttler b Archer 4 (South Africa 7-4)<\/p>\n Jofra Archer is ripping South Africa apart! Another short ball at searing pace is flapped at by Breetzke and the catch loops to Buttler behind the stumps.<\/p>\n This is fast bowling straight out of the top drawer from Jofra Archer. Photograph: Adam Davy\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.08 EDT<\/p>\n 4th over: South Africa 6-3 (Breetzke 4, Stubbs 0) Carse looks to have his dander up too, he peels off another maiden and gets the ball to jag about off a good length as well as spearing in a late 80s MPH bouncer for good measure too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: South Africa 6-3 (Breetzke 4, Stubbs 0) Archer is up at 93 mph and whistles one past new batter Tristan Stubb\u2019s snout! Another wicket maiden to the big man as he makes this pitch look like a sack of snakes rather than the largely benign surface which England just piled on 415 runs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Ryan Rickelton c \u2020Buttler b Archer 1 (South Africa 6-3)<\/p>\n That\u2019s lovely from Jofra Archer! Reminiscent of the delivery he bowled to get rid of Jaiswal on his Test comeback earlier in the summer, a beauty that nips away late and takes the edge. South Africa are on the skids in Southampton.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer is on fire! Photograph: Adam Davy\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.02 EDT<\/p>\n 2nd over: South Africa 6-2 (Rickelton 1, Breetzke 4) Matthew Breetzke is the new man, he arrives in the middle and crunches Carse through backward point for four off his first ball! It\u2019s all happening.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Wiaan Mulder c Brook b Carse 0 (South Africa 2-2)<\/p>\n Another one gone! Mulder plays a hack across the line to Carse and serves only to spoon the ball straight up and Brook snaffles the chance. The intimidating scoreboard is seemingly scrambling South African minds at the moment.<\/p>\n South Africa are already in real trouble Photograph: Adam Davy\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.54 EDT<\/p>\n 1st over: South Africa 1-1 (Rickelton 0, Mulder 0) Wiaan Mulder is in at No. 3 with Temba Bavuma out of action with a crooked hamstring at the moment. He may well bat later after the bag of petit pois has worked its magic. We\u2019ll see. Disastrous start from the Proteas, Bethell pulls off some snappy fielding at backward point to keep Mulder on nought.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.31 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Aiden Markram c \u2020Buttler b Archer 0 (South Africa 0-1)<\/p>\n What a cruel game cricket can be! Aidan Markram has endured fifty overs of English blitzkrieg and then he nicks off second ball to Jofra Archer when he gets his turn with the bat. It was short and wide and Markram wafted at it, he can\u2019t believe what he\u2019s done and stands rooted to the crease in disappointment.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer strikes! Photograph: Harry Trump\/ECB\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.53 EDT<\/p>\n Thanks Tanya and hello everyone. The players take to the field in Southampton, there was a smattering of rain during the innings break but the forecast looks clear. England will be hoping it has given the pitch a bit of zip. Harry Brook has plenty of runs to play with, it\u2019ll be a decent game if South Africa get anywhere near this total.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And with Michael Atherton interrogating Richard Thompson, time for me to hand over to Jim Wallace for the second innings \u2013 thanks for your messages, bye!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Not the best start for South Africa with a chase of more than 400 imminent\u2013 news lands that Bavuma has a calf strain and will only bat if he has to.<\/p>\n Temba Bavuma is an injury concern for South Africa. Photograph: Dave Vokes\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.33 EDT<\/p>\n A couple of matches in and England have found their 50-over mojo. An explosive performance with the bat \u2013 with hundreds for old hand, Joe Root, and young thruster, Jacob Bethell \u2013 with Bethell displaying all the lace and baubles that have impressed McCullum and co so much.<\/p>\n Cameos for Smith at the start and Buttler at the close took England soaring over the magic 400. South Africa were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, dropping a couple of important catches (Smith and Bethell) as well as giving away 27 extras.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.24 EDT<\/p>\n South Africa need 415 to win!<\/p>\n 50th over: England 414- 5 ( Buttler 62, Jacks 19) Seventeen from Burger\u2019s final over- starting with a rocket over cover from Jacks, ending with Buttler mashing Burger back over his head, with four dinked and shovelled by Buttler in between. England finishing on a brutal high \u2013 South Africa will need something extraordinary to even whisper in its ear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Fifty for Jos Buttler!<\/p>\n 49th over: England 397- 5 ( Buttler 50, Jacks 14) Bam-wham over long off for four. And with a couple off the next ball, Buttler brings up fifty off just 27 balls. Bosch finishes a whole-hearted, if expensive (0-78) spell by stopping a fierce Buttler drive with his foot. Somehow he isn\u2019t taken off the field on a stretcher. With one over left, 400 in touching distance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48th over: England 387- 5 ( Buttler 40, Jacks 14) In between a top-edged four and a lofted six from Jacks, the government\u2019s seurity alarm goes off. England power on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.07 EDT<\/p>\n 47th over: England 372-5 ( Buttler 39, Jacks 1) 28 runs to reach the magic 400.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Root c sub b Bosch 100 (England 371-5)<\/p>\n Root, slightly off balance, knocks the ball to point where a flying Maphaka holds on with both hands. The ground rises, Root lifts bat and helmet and turns round to acknowledge the crowd. On the way up the steps to the dressing-room he hands his gloves to a young boy, who smiles the hugest smile and hugs them close to his chest.<\/p>\n The Rose Bowl crowd rise as one as Joe Root makes his way off the field. Photograph: Harry Trump\/ECB\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.01 EDT<\/p>\n A hundred for Joe Root!<\/p>\n 46th over: England 364-4 (Root 100, Buttler 32) Yusuf starts with a wide \u2013 the decoration of choice for this innings. A run-out chance against Root ends up going for three, which turns into a free hit when replays shows Yusuf has overstepped. In the end, a simple single brings Root his 19th ODI century, from just 95 balls. A pat on the back from his old buddy Buttler, and a quiet smile and raise of the bat. Another garland for England\u2019s greatest batsman.<\/p>\n Rooooooooot! Photograph: Philip Brown\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.54 EDT<\/p>\n 45th over: England 354-4 (Root 96, Buttler 28) The blows are raining down now on South Africa. A bit of relay fielding turns into a trip and bucket routine from the big top, then Buttler flays four, then six \u2013 which is well held by the man in the front row of the crowd.<\/p>\nJames Wallace<\/p>\n