South Africa win third ODI

"It stuttered. It was good. There was total contrast the beginning as the openers got off all right, Alex Hales looks comfortable in one-day cricket. Joe Root wasn’t at his most fluent, but he played a nice innings with good shots, Ben Stokes came along and gave it a whack. 

"In between, Eoin Morgan's innings was unbelievable. He tried to whack it and missed the ball altogether, it was all fraught, in some ways I was glad he got out."

Neil Farrington: Touch of Dernbachitis about England's loyalty to Chris Jordan, its symptoms a mystery to us mere laymen.

South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock: "We knew it would be a better wicket at night and it was a matter of getting in and batting normally and it was better with the ball coming on to the bat a bit better."

"David Gower played with fluency and ease. It is an ease of timing, he takes the ball at the top of the bounce, and this kid has got that ability to time the ball and make it look so easy."

Why did you promote David Wiese to number three in the order?

South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "When you back David, it brings out the best in him - we just wanted to take pressure out of the situation. We're slowly but surely getting ourselves back into the series, we're all very excited for the pink day at Johannesburg and hopefully we can level the series.  

"I thought England got a workable total, what we didn’t expect was the pitch to get better. The night air came in and the ball came onto the bat better.

"That doesn’t take anything away from De Kock, he was wonderful. Amla was so overshadowed it made him look an ordinary player, at the other end De Kock was creaming it everywhere."

South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "We needed that win, I thought the boys played really well. We had a bit of urgency and hunger in the field, we've not had the greatest series until today but that shows the attitude we have. I had a bit of local knowledge, we felt it was definitely a chasing pitch and difficult to defend. When Amla and De Kock come off at the top of the order, it makes it really easy for the middle order."

Greg: Seems like I'm one of the few who thought 318 was nowhere near enough. Moving on.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "I thought 318 was a good score, this group has been very good in setting totals. The wicket got a little worse as our innings went on and a little wear and tear crept in,but Joe Root was outstanding. They had an incredible opening partnership, the ball didn't swing early on so we had to go back to hitting our lengths, and we didn't do that well enough. South Africa have come back strong, hopefully we can bounce back."

As Boycs is pointing out on TMS, AB de Villiers called it exactly right when he said he'd have preferred to chase today had he won the toss...

Alex Pitt: When Amla retires SA should commission a gold cast of his wrists, put it on a plinth and have new batsmen kiss it on the way out.

Needless to say, we'll bring you a bit of Boycott - and stay tuned for the presentation ceremony, where I'd take a wild guess that Quinton de Kock will be picking up the man of the match gong.

You can listen to commentary on all of the women's ODIs and T20s between South Africa and England on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and/or the BBC Sport website.

Ben: A seven-wicket defeat with 318 on the board is, frankly, embarrassing.

Flemming Jensen: You can't win them all, but Jordan HAS to go....

As well as that record-breaking opening stand (a SA record against England), it's also the highest successful ODI run chase at this ground - beating West Indies' 300-3 in 2004.

"You can't fault the England batting. The key was South Africa were up for it. I think it is great for the series."

"It is a thumping victory and an unexpected victory. We thought England's 318 would be enough. It has given South Africa a very important and reviving victory."

And what's more, it keeps the series alive. Two more games to come at two of South Africa's iconic venues - the Wanderers and Newlands.

South Africa: 319-3 from 46.2 overs

Not out batsmen: Du Plessis 33, De Villiers 0

Fall of wickets: 239-1 (De Kock 135), 249-2 (Wiese 7), 311-3 (Amla 127)

Bowling figures: Willey 5-0-40-0, Topley 6-0-46-0, Stokes 8.2-0-54-0, Jordan 7-0-54-1, Moeen 10-0-75-1, Rashid 10-0-45-1

England: 318-8 (50 overs) - Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53

Full scorecard

That's it - a single to fine leg means Du Plessis finishes on 33 not out from 29 balls.

Free hit - and Du Plessis smacks it for a straight six to level the scores.

Teddov: Quite fed up with everyone having it in for Jordan.We've seen what he can do,need to stop berating players after a few bad games.

Sam Roberts: Not a happy fan, how on earth did Jordan deserve to get in over Chris Woakes at least who had a good series in the UAE.

Jack Byrne: Anyone know the point of Chris Jordan?

Stokes to bowl - can SA finish it this over? It's a high, wide full toss - which Du Plessis swats to cover and Morgan can't hold on. But for the third time in this innings, it's a no-ball for height.

De Villiers averages 54 in ODIs, with a strike rate of exactly 100, so you wouldn't think he'll need to take this to the last over.

"He has to be more or less dragged off, he looks a little weary, it has been a magnificent innings."

Du Plessis rotates the strike. Nine to win, and Amla - on 127 and seeing it as large as a football - on strike. Make than eight to win, courtesy of another legside wide. We've had a few of them today.

"It is just easy pickings right now."

More bodyline from Jordan to Du Plessis, and the ex-Lancashire man has no trouble in pulling a four over short fine leg, which is enthusiastically signalled by the South African fans on the grassy bank. Jordan fires another one down the leg side, FDP helps it on its way and it's 10 to win.

"The pitch has played a lot better than we expected and South Africa have played superbly."

Stokes is giving it everything, but there's only one way this game is going. Amla steers a four through point to take the Proteas past 300. That's also the fifty stand. 18 needed from 30 balls.

Maddy Raman: For England to be an exceptional side they have to get over this complacency when they're ahead in or have won a series.

Sam Roberts: What does Jordan offer, short, wide deliveries with some pace means easy runs, should be no where near the England setup.

The wristy Amla guides Stokes for four through mid-wicket, past the leaping Jordan. while Stokes sends down the eighth wide of the innings. There's a flash of lightning in the far distance, but the weather won't save England. Not only are SA about 30 ahead on Duckworth/Lewis, but I'd wager this match will be over before the weather gets there. 22 needed from 33.

"I think look, he is an outstanding fielder, I just feel there could be an improvement with Stuart Broad, I hope no one thinks I am being nasty to Jordan."

Chris Jordan returns, going round the wicket to the right-handed Faf du Plessis, who fends one off his body for a single. It's got to that stage of the game where there's a committee meeting of fielders every time the strike is rotated. Jordan hasn't had much good fortune from bowling short today - the fact that he's bowling round the wicket rather telegraphs that plan - and FDP helps himself to a four down the leg side, then blasting four more past the bowler. I'm reliably informed that a large lady is warming up her vocal cords.

"They should canter home really, all the work has been done by De Kock and Amla.

"The important thing for England is to ignore the manner and the margin of the defeat."  

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England turn back to Ben Stokes, we know how he can turn a game with the bat - can he do so with the ball? A tall order if ever there was one. Du Plessis finds the boundary for the first time, bashing a four back past the bowler. 38 needed from 42.

Ian Funnell: Without Finn England look a bit toothless. Would play Broad for Jordan in next game.

"I think my mum could knock them off now."

With a stick of rhubarb?

And that's it for Moeen, who finishes with 10-0-75-1. The Proteas need 44 from 48 balls - that six put the requirement under a run a ball for the first time in the match. Amla has 117, Du Plessis seven.

"You don’t see that too often from Hashim Amla. That’s not his game."

Now it's Moeen's time to complete his spell, he too sends down a wide - and Amla is on cruise control, guiding a four through third man before launching a six over the bowler's lead.

South Africa: 262-2 from 41 overs

Batsmen: Amla 106, Du Plessis 6

Fall of wickets: 239-1 (De Kock 135), 249-2 (Wiese 7)

Bowling figures: Willey 5-0-40-0, Topley 6-0-46-0, Stokes 6-0-31-0, Jordan 5-0-37-0, Moeen 9-0-62-1, Rashid 10-0-45-1

England: 318-8 (50 overs) - Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53

Full scorecard

Rashid spins down his last over, five singles and a wide from it, and Rashid takes his cap with figures of 10-0-45-1.

"It is never good to lose, you want to win them all, but I think out of the loss England will be able to see if it doesn’t swing, Topley is medium pace, he needs more oomph, and when Jordan bowls he is exposed."

Morne Morkel's brother Albie, the former South Africa all-rounder, knows a thing or two about the conditions...

Moeen to continue, Du Plessis takes guard from his compatriot Cloete and will be looking to help Amla steer the Proteas home without further trouble. As if England didn't have enough worries from this game, Jason Roy looks to he holding his side after falling awkwardly in the field.

10 overs to go - SA have kept the required rate steady, just above six an over for virtually the entire innings.

Matt Evans: You've just put the mockers on Simon's reverse-mockers! Now SA will cruise it!

Simon Goodall: Simon Mann = Legend. Next comment please Simon..

The spinners have both got a wicket, so England keep them going. Faf du Plessis is the new batsman, steering his first ball from Rashid for a single. Rashid tosses the ball from hand to hand, as if deliberating over where to bowl to Amla. Du Plessis is foxed by a googly, but umpire Gaffaney turns down England's lbw appeal.

"That was too full to sweep. They send people in to hit sixes, why not just say have a bat?"

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"Amla supported De Kock superbly, another class hundred."

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It's been Quinton de Kock's day, but Hashim Amla reaches his 22nd ODI century from 109 balls.

An astonishing ball from Moeen, it's a head-high full toss, Amla can't connect with a vertical bat above his head and Jos Buttler completes what would be a slick stumping if it hadn't been called a no-ball for being a high full toss. A single off the free hit ball takes him to 99.

"They have got nothing to worry about South Africa, as Simon has just told us."

"If England win this from here Victor, I will buy you drinks for the rest of the year," Simon Mann replies.

A change of batting order as South Africa have sent in David Wiese - presumably to give him some practice, as he wasn't due to bat until number seven. SA need 80 from 78 balls.

"He is in shock because he is out. It is a fantastic innings. He has played two stunning innings in this series."

“They are bounding towards victory. It would be a bang down to Earth for England if they were to lose by nine or 10 wickets with 318 on the board.

"It is inconceivable that South Africa will lose from here."

An attempt at reverse-mockers from Simon?

England bring Moeen Ali back, but we're close to the stage where bowling changes have about as much effect as rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. De Kock squeezes a four between backward point and short third man. Time for drinks.

If you're just getting in from work and switching your phone on, I'm afraid this score is correct. The BBC wicket alerts are working fine... we've just not had to send one during this innings.

"It seems to me, there is one place in South Africa to play if you are a bowler, and that’s Port Elizabeth, and we've left it."

Is a run-out England's only hope of a wicket? Amla pushes Topley for a quick single to Root at mid-on, his throw hits the stumps but Amla had made his ground. Amla can hit you anywhere around the ground - threading a four through the covers and guiding another through mid-wicket, where on earth do you bowl to him? He has 95 from 100 balls and is on course to be today's third Centurion centurion.

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Dave Poulton: 23 years old and already De Kock has 10 ODI hundreds?! What a ridiculously impressive record that is.

David Willey has a dark blue towel tucked into the back of his trousers to dry the ball, but they may need to produce a rabbit from a hat to turn the tide here. Amla, not often the junior partner when he bats through an innings like this, is content to help himself to ones and twos. Willey tries something different by bowling round the wicket - but Amla steps across and flicks him into the crowd behind fine leg for six. Just the 100 needed now.

"I would give Joe Root a go, he seems to have the golden arm. Give him a bowl."

James Beeching: I'm feeling as flat as a pancake following this now, surely someone can crack a South African egg?

Alex Louch: If Roy and Root hadn't been sacrificed in the careless run outs England were on for two partnerships like this.

This is too easy for De Kock, now he launches Topley back over his head for another four. Even a mis-hit from Amla lands safely wide of a fielder. 112 needed from 102 balls.

"He is a sensational player. His timing is amazing really.

"It would be amazing from here, for England to get out of jail."  

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Stokes off, Topley on so it's back to left-arm seam at both ends. But the new Hampshire recruit serves up a full toss which De Kock expertly flicks off his legs to backward square leg where it bisects two boundary fielders.

Are England going to lose this by 10 wickets?

"De Kock’s record is absolutely phenomenal. It must be unprecedented."

De Kock takes the aerial route again, it reaches long-off on the bounce. Even when they're not hitting boundaries, the Proteas are taking singles with their eyes closed.

They need 123 from 108 balls - if we've not mentioned it, it would be the highest ODI run chase on this ground.

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"Help yourself. That was a buffet delivery."

England turn back to opening bowler David Willey in place of Jordan, but Amla is toying with England here, dancing outside off stump and nurdling the left-armer down to fine leg for a couple. A single brings De Kock on strike.. and he hoists a loose delivery for six at least halfway up the grass bank at backward square leg, almost threatening to hit the scoreboard.

G S Webster: Can Capt.Morgan please drop himself for the next ODI. His batting has been awful and his choice of bowlers useless.

Francis Edwards: Just when I don't think Jordan can do much more wrong he goes and bowls a beamer and gives away a free hit. -SIGH- 

Stokes trots in for his sixth over, De Kock shows him no mercy with a powerful pull for four, while a full toss is poked down to fine leg where only the acrobatic Reece Topley prevents back-to-back boundaries. Amla joins in the fun as a pull shot brings him his eighth four. 11 from the over, where do England turn now?

"I can honestly say I thought that was the perfect yorker. How is that possible?"

A long Jordan over gets even longer when he sends down a wide - but the force is with De Kock when even a good yorker is drilled back past the bowler, off the toe end of the bat, for four. He has 105 from 98 balls. SA need 145 from 20 overs - or 120 balls, should you prefer.

Jordan bowls a high full toss to De Kock - so high, in fact, that it's called a no-ball. De Kock has fended it off for a single, but it means Amla will have a "free hit". But as Amla backs away, Jordan fires it in, yorker-length, outside off stump and the danger is averted.

"A standing ovation for De Kock, not just from his team-mates but the whole ground."

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De Kock steers Stokes for two to move to 99, then has to dig out another good yorker - but as he guides a short ball for a single to fine leg, the whole ground rises for his second century in three games. It's his 10th ODI century, from 96 balls. Well batted, sir.

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"He was done, he would have been a goner. If only Jordan could produce more of those ones at key moments."

De Kock has to jam his bat down on a good yorker from Jordan, miss that and he'd have been plumb lbw. I know that yorkers are no longer "en vogue" in modern international cricket, but I'd humbly suggest that's probably the best ball I've seen Jordan bowl this series, and perhaps he ought to try to repeat it. But no, the last ball is banged in halfway down, De Kock launches another one into the sky over mid-wicket, is that four or six? Looked to have hit the boundary "rope" on the full? It's four.

A single means this is now the highest opening partnership for SA against England in ODIs, beating the 156 by Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten in 1995-96.

Rashid wheels away for his seventh over, it's not been the Yorkshire leggie's day with the ball. It's a fairly tight over, just two from it, and Rashid has 0-35 from seven.

And for those of you hoping for a weather intervention... if it rained now, SA are more than 20 above the D/L par score.

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"It is incredible, Amla has got great hands. When he is at his best, it is his wrists that are the thing."

De Kock sees off the over. What can England do now? Bowl for run-outs?

"I would never be an umpire, it is hard work all this."

Replays show the ball clipping the edge of De Kock's right pad as he played and missed down the leg side. Not a great call from Jos Buttler who immediately signalled to his captain that he wanted the review.

Chris Jordan returns, banging in an attempted bouncer, but Amla is calmness personified as he plays the ball late, guiding it through third man for four. Jordan then bowls one down the leg side, umpire Cloete signals a wide, but England - with more than a hint of desperation - call for a review for a catch behind...

South Africa: 149-0 from 25 overs

Batsmen: De Kock 91, Amla 54

Bowling figures: Willey 3-0-17-0, Topley 4-0-24-0, Stokes 4-0-16-0, Jordan 2-0-18-0, Moeen 6-0-40-0, Rashid 6-0-33-0

England: 318-8 (50 overs) - Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53

Full scorecard

"They cannot contain him. De Kock, in no time at all, is into the 90s."

De Kock continues to show England a clean pair of metaphorical heels as he clubs a four past the square leg umpire. The Proteas are very much on top at the halfway stage. The irrepressible De Kock has 91 from 80 balls.

"You have got to keep control as long as you can The batsmen are in comfort mode. You have to try and make it uncomfortable."

De Kock eases the pressure with another six off the second ball of Rashid's sixth over. A loose full toss gets what it deserves and is smacked over long-off.

"They are making it look very comfortable. Every now and again when you think they are just playing ones and twos, Quinton de Kock just explodes."

It's as though England are pre-programmed to bowl their spinners in tandem at this stage, I'd certainly be thinking about mixing up the bowlers a little as in this mode, South Africa are up with the rate and are on course to win comfortably. De Kock sweeps his ninth four of the innings - then immediately calls for his helmet between deliveries, as though he fears a top edge into the face.

You can follow the whole of the England women's series in SA with commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and/or the BBC Sport website.

With spin on at both ends, De Kock has now swapped his helmet for a dark green SA cap (of the ODI baseball sort, rather than the traditional baggy variety). They need 190 from 162 balls, with all 10 wickets still intact.

"Moeen was doing well but the batsmen get used to you. I like swapping and changing, over and round the wicket, or just one over."

Amla is halfway to becoming a Centurion centurion, not for the first time - bringing up his 29th ODI fifty from 63 balls.

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Minas Mars: If you hit the ball with a lightsaber and only one half goes over the boundary, is it a four or a two?

Perhaps it's a question for John Holder on TMS's popular "Ask the Umpire" feature during the summer? Never mind lightsabers, what if the ball splits in two before clearing the boundary?

Another loose delivery from Moeen is despatched to the cow corner boundary, this time for four. The Proteas keeper has 73 from 70 balls, Amla has 49 from 62.

"This is what day-night cricket is all about."

The spinners have combined figures of 8-0-38-0, and the pickings are still of the easy variety as Moeen begins his fifth over... and after a single from Amla, De Kock gets down on one knee and swings him over cow corner for six into the mass of fans on the grassy bank.

"If anyone can take a wicket out of nothing then Rashid is the man."

It feels like Amla has been in the 40s for a little while, he moves to 47 and South Africa to 111 - can 'Nelson' strike for England? Not today - De Kock nudges a single off his legs, Two more mean it's another four-run over. England were 113-1 at this stage.

“At the moment South Africa look to be on course but there is a long way to go.”

Steady accumulation from De Kock and Amla, four chanceless singles.

And more importantly, having had 20 overs, we now have a match, even if another storm intervenes. South Africa are ahead on Duckworth/Lewis. (By about 10, we reckon).

Jon Power: I'm assuming Wicket Alerts are not working again?

James Beeching: Dear BBC Cricket please could you start sending out wicket alerts? I'd very much like Quinton to 'de Stop'.

Simon Hughes on TMS thinks Joe Root should have a bowl after his magnificent century earlier today, but for now England persist with the Moeen-Rashid combination as the natural light is nearly gone. Amla square-drives at Rashid, and Willey again distinguishes himself with another boundary stop. Just three runs from the over, but still nothing in the wickets column.

"We have got to hope the break helps England. Quite often it does but they have at least got to get somebody else in."

If you missed the feature on Kagiso Rabada at the interval, it's now available as a TMS podcast...

Amla brings up the century stand with a single, the ground isn't full but those who have made the journey have been rewarded with some excellent cricket today. And as the players take drinks, I'd venture that the home fans will be in a better mood than the Barmy Army, the longer this partnership goes on.

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"I am surprised England haven’t caused them a few more problems."

Rashid begins a new over, De Kock fences it over backward point and Reece Topley belies his appearance as a gangly pace bowler by getting down superbly to flick the ball away from the boundary. I said earlier that every run counts - that can equally apply to runs saved in the field.

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“He is talented. It is free flowing his shot-play. He will get out like everybody, but there is a lot of freedom. There is a lot of David Gower about him, he is fluid.”

Hashim Amla, graceful as ever, is happy to play the supporting role to De Kock, helping himself to ones and twos while his left-handed partner is the aggressor. But they are taking no risks - De Kock carefully defends the final ball of Moeen's over.

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"He is in great nick, De Kock. England need a start, a wicket or two, and then the pressure will build on the new batsman."

De Kock reaches his sixth ODI fifty from exactly 50 deliveries. Looking in ominously good touch.

"England need a wicket. You have got to bowl well enough to make De Kock take the gamble. If you don’t get De Kock out you don’t win the game."

A double change as England turn to Adil Rashid's leggies. Chris Jordan is a predatory first slip, while there are three men back on the legside fence, including "boundary fox" David Willey who is kept busy on several occasions during the over. Four from it - SA's "worm" is ahead of England, who were 77-1 at this stage.

"It is a daunting task for Moeen. We didn’t see any spin for Tahir, of any significance."

Off-spinner Moeen Ali to have a go - but the locals are on their feet as De Kock drills Moeen's first ball for four through third man, and a couple of twos have put the SA keeper within touching distance of a half-century. His 48 have taken 47 balls.

Dan Gee: If you hit a ball with a lightsaber [see Neil Manthorp's comment, 12th over] it would split in half. Come on guys, don't skimp on the sci-fi based cricket accuracy!

"He’s got problems Morgan. Albeit with a good total posted, he is going to have to find a combination. He’s going to have to do some juggling."

Several England fielders are looking to the skies, perhaps concerned about the weather, perhaps looking for divine inspiration, four singles from Stokes's fourth over keep the Proteas on cruise control.

"I think the spinners are going to play a very important role."

Zishan: Don't understand why Jordan even plays ahead of Plunkett...

Francis Edwards: Really, three games in and Jordan is still in the team. Such a weak link, I'd even rather see Woakes in and that's saying something.

Thomas Measures: Surely only a matter of time before Broad comes in for Jordan? Just seem to expensive for my liking.

Thomas Leonard: Why is Chris Jordan bowling at international level? He is not good enough. In a few years, maybe. But not now.

Jordan has 0-18 from two overs. Is this going to be a long evening for England? Time for some spin?

"He might as well have hit that with a lightsaber."

The Force is awakening...

The natural light is definitely starting to fade. But Quinton de Kock lights up Centurion when he lifts a length ball over mid-wicket for six!

“I have noticed throughout the tour that Ben Stokes is very hard on his fielders. There is not much ‘well tried'."

In contrast to Amla's movement across the crease, De Kock stands very tall, straight and still at the crease, rather like a left-handed Owais Shah. Amla works Stokes off his legs, it looks as though Rashid has it covered at fine leg... but the ball's momentum takes it over the rope. England were 59-1 at this stage. Amla has 29 from 32 balls, De Kock has 32 from 34.

...and they're going to stay on for now. TMS commentator Neil Manthorp is optimistic that the storm may have avoided Centurion.

South Africa: 57-0 from 10 overs

Batsmen: De Kock 30, Amla 22

Bowling figures: Willey 3-0-17-0, Topley 4-0-24-0, Stokes 2-0-4-0, Jordan 1-0-11-0

England: 318-8 (50 overs) - Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53

Full scorecard

Amla guides another single off his legs, De Kock spears one to mid-off, it's 11 off the over and now the umpires are going to discuss the nearby lightning it seems...

"Oh my word. He is not the strongest batsman on either side by a long, long way, but the ball can leave his bat with greater speed than almost anyone else’s."

Chris Jordan didn't come on until well into the SA innings at Port Elizabeth, only coming on as the sixth bowler, but today he's being used with the 10-over fielding restrictions still in place. Amla steps across to the off side, well outside off stump and unleashes a fluent cover drive for four - that's the fifty stand. Jordan's riposte is an off-side wide which is well outside the tramlines, as though he anticipated Amla stepping across again. And as if to show his versatility, Amla *does* step across next ball - but deflects another wristy four through fine leg.

"They have worked really hard and are a quartet of great potential but the greatest power of strike is probably Stokes."

It's not quite time to batten down the hatches yet at Centurion, but if that lightning gets any closer, the fans gathered around their braais will be running for cover. A tighter over from Stokes, just an Amla single from it.

And although we can't have a game until 30 overs have been bowled, suffice to say SA are about seven runs ahead on Duckworth/Lewis at the moment.

"From an English perspective it is looking ominously easy for the South African’s to score their runs.

"And my goodness De Kock times the ball well."

Topley to continue, and after a legside wide, the two-paced nature of this pitch is shown as one rears up at De Kock and hits the splice of his bat as he fends it off. But unbowed, he helps a loose delivery to the fine leg fence for four... then a checked straight drive past the non-striker - in fact, Amla has to do the splits to let the ball through - takes De Kock to 28 from 28 balls. Two more singles, Topley has 0-24 from four and it's probably time for a change at his end.

And suddenly there's a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder... Messrs Duckworth and Lewis might need to strap the pads on after all.

"It feels like a play-on pitch, with the indifferent bounce. I would far rather be in England’s position with runs on the board."

An early, pro-active bowling change from Captain Morgan as Ben Stokes is into the attack with his brisk right-arm medium-fast seam. South Africa pick up a couple of singles, Stokes strays with a wide, and though they have runs on the board, I'm sure England fans will start to worry the longer this partnership goes on...

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This is the run-out which Ebony and Simon were talking about on TMS. Definitely worth a watch.

Too wide from Topley, and De Kock helps himself to another four through the covers. 28 of these first 29 runs have come in boundaries... De Kock knocks a single to third man. The Proteas are on easystreet so far.

"Amla is like a magician when he is in full flow. He magics the ball through the infield with no effort. He has three hundreds here so England will want him out quickly.

"He is looking dangerous."

The boundaries continue to flow as Amla effortlessly drives a four past the despairing dive of Moeen Ali at mid-off. He remains a wonderful player to watch when he's in good nick, and now he helps himself to four more, this time a wristy flick off his legs. A good start; England were 31-0 at this stage but soon lost Jason Roy.

"No sign of swing for either of these left-armers. They swung it at Port Elizabeth but it is straight today."

While South Africa's tail has been slightly lengthened by the inclusion of all-rounder David Wiese at the expense of specialist batsman Rilee Rossouw, make no mistake, there's plenty of batting power in their line-up. And with the way De Kock was hitting them all around Bloemfontein before the rain came, an early wicket would not come amiss from England's perspective. The left-handed wicketkeeper takes aim at mid-on but an inside edge takes it for four through fine leg. There's an lbw appeal off the last ball - more from the keeper and slip than from the bowler - but it looked to be going down leg. "Wickets missing" says the ball-tracker.

De Kock, standing tall, chops the ball into the covers and some awkward bounce takes it away from Chris Jordan, but skipper Eoin Morgan cleans up to restrict the Proteas to a single, their only scoring shot from the over.

It's left-arm seam from both ends as the heavily tattooed Reece Topley bowls to Hashim Amla - whose pads seem a much brighter shade of green than those of his team-mates. And his strokeplay is as bright as the aforementioned pads as Amla square-drives for four. However, he gets a visit from the physio between overs to tape up his right hand.

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Shahzad Malik: England are unrecognisable from 12 months ago. Attacking batters, two spinners, maybe a fast bowler short.

South Africa off to a good start as a textbook cover-driven four from Quinton de Kock gets the innings under way from Willey's third delivery. And as there's a flash of lightning in the distance, De Kock repeats the shot for his second boundary of the over.

Fingers crossed, we'll get a full game in. Remember, both sides need to face 20 overs for a match to be construed.

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I sound like a broken record at times on the matter of over-rates - but again, we've had a shortened interval. The lights are on, but the sun is still out - Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla are ready to face the first over, to be bowled by David Willey. Stand by.

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Over in Pune, India are on the rack - they've been bowled out for 101 in 18.5 overs by Sri Lanka in their first Twenty20 international. Debutant Kasun Rajitha took two wickets in his first over in international cricket and finished with 4-29 from three overs.

Follow Sri Lanka's reply via our live scorecard.

Former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini on Kagiso Rabada: "Taking 13 wickets in a Test match, he will never be forgotten. We're trying to build a rainbow nation within a white-dominated sport like cricket. Everyone talks about the transformation of our country, and having him and Bavuma in the Test side is a good sign of things to come."

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Prague Barbarians CC: If there had been a wicket off of a no ball or wide for the "last" ball Topley would have looked pretty silly with no pads on.

So what did new England women's coach Mark Robinson say to his players after they won his first game in charge on Sunday?

England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor on TMS: "It probably wasn't the best performance in the field, we looked a bit rusty, but he was quick to praise us individually. I'm really enjoying my cricket at the moment, the excitement of the Women's Big Bash League has carried on."

Taylor plays her 100th ODI on Friday - listen to commentary here on the BBC Sport website.

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Kieron Bird: This is very evenly poised. Good start for England but SA pulled it back. It feels like it could go either way. Is 318 enough?

Stuart Mitchell: 318-8 is a good total on that wicket, decent recovery after the cluster of wickets also. England's to lose i think.

England's Joe Root speaking about his run-out on Sky Sports: "My bad really. It was disappointing to get out like that because we knew we wanted to get over 320. It was my fault I should have just gone back.

"320 was just over par on that wicket. It is about making sure we can defend it. We are going to have to be smart about how we protect that short boundary."

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"It was a strange old innings that. It was going nicely, then stumbled, picked up and stumbled again.

"South Africa not out of the game not by any means."

So, do England have enough? Restrict South Africa to under 318 and they win the series. Restrict them to exactly 318 and we'll have a thrilling tie.

England: 318-8 from 50 overs (won toss)

Run-rate: 6.36

Top score: Root 125 from 113 balls with 10 fours and five sixes

Fall of wickets: 36-1 (Roy 20), 161-2 (Hales 65), 162-3 (Buttler 0), 187-4 (Morgan 8), 269-5 (Root 125), 284-6 (Moeen 3), 291-7 (Stokes 53), 291-8 (Jordan 3)

Not out batsmen: Willey 13, Rashid 13  

Bowling figures: Abbott 10-0-50-2, Rabada 10-0-65-2, Morkel 10-0-63-1, Wiese 10-0-64-1, Tahir 8-0-56-0, Behardien 2-0-13-0

Full scorecard

The last ball is another full toss from Abbott, Rashid steers it to the mid-wicket sweeper and they take one. A useful last-wicket stand of 27.

Rashid can't get a bat on a wide yorker. Dot ball, which ensures Reece Topley can take his pads off.

Full toss, Willey smacks down the ground for one. Every run counts...

"The worst thing you can do is bowl a slower ball on a length at this stage. That was a good old whack."

Slower ball from Abbott, Willey picks it up and launches it over mid-wicket for six! Important little stand, this.

A fielding lapse by Tahir at short fine leg gives Willey an unearned two, the second ball is smacked to long-off for a well-run two.

"I think this is a good score but modern one-day cricket can confound you."

Finally a clean connection for Rashid as he shovels a four through square leg to push England's score to 300. But it's a poor finish to Rabada's spell as he serves up a full toss which Rashid swats over long-off for six.

Rabada to bowl the penultimate over. Willey knocks a single, Rashid hooks but is still struggling to put bat on ball. He manages to steer a two, but Rabada fields well off his own bowling to ensure another dot ball.

Richard Panday: SA have done well to stem the flow of runs, can England's bowlers work some magic on this pitch? Cracking game so far

Small Man Peaky: England staggering towards the line here. Will end up 29 runs short. Still confident that the bowlers can do a job though.

Willey swishes, South Africa half-heartedly appeal for a catch behind. A single brings Rashid on strike, he dabs and misses.

"This is a little strike back from South Africa here."

Adil Rashid the new batsman, Willey to face the hat-trick ball, which is a bouncer... and signalled as a wide.

"This is really stemming that flow. There has been some really good bowling by South Africa at the death here."

"Stokes has been brilliant. He has come in and kept the momentum going. I sensed towards the end he got a little bogged down."

"South Africa have done a good job in the last few overs. They have nailed their yorkers which has stemmed the flow a little bit."

Some good running from these two, but some tight bowling from Rabada if Stokes is only picking up singles. Where England might have been looking at 350 with Root and Stokes in, what might be a good score now - 320?

TMS, by the way, will be turning the spotlight on young Rabada at the interval - they've interviewed him, his father and a few others about his rise to international prominence.

"I think there needs to be a new phrase for throwing the kitchen sink when it comes to Ben Stokes. Maybe a truck?"

Chris Jordan is the new batsman, England bat right down in this ODI side - there's still David Willey, who opened in limited-overs cricket while he was at Northants, and Adil Rashid (who has 10 first-class centuries to his name) to come. Reece Topley... let's not go there. Stokes and Jordan can only take ones off the first half of Rabada's over.

"It was a good shot from Moeen but he has just picked out the man. The fielding has been pretty good from South Africa, some solid catching."

"That is a bit of a gift at this time of the game but well put away by Stokes."

And a single means that's fifty from Stokes from 33 balls.

The recalled Morne Morkel foxes Stokes with a slower-ball bouncer, but the Durham man clubs a single to deep square leg to move to 45. Moeen rotates the strike with a similar stroke. With third man and fine leg up, Stokes eyes up the boundaries again and smashes a four wide over mid-on.

Dan Manning: Simon Wilde please stay away from Twitter when the crickets on.

PD31: Simon Wilde did, indeed, provide the kiss of death.

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David Wiese will become the first Proteas bowler to complete his 10-over spell - he's facing Ben Stokes in good touch (on 42 from 27 balls). The Durham all-rounder comes down the track to Wiese, but for now the boundaries evade him. Moeen can only chop a slower ball to the keeper - and while the SA fans are firing up their braais on the grassy banks, can England keep the heat turned up for the last five overs?

After a warm ovation for Root, Moeen Ali is the new batsman, and South Africa are going to try to smuggle another Behardien over through - which would mean they don't have to use Tahir again. England pick up several ones and twos, but it's only five from the over.

"What an outstanding innings from Joe Root. He has made the pitch look a belter. That was the only way he was going to get out, the bowlers couldn’t. I think that will be a match winning innings."

"So unfortunate because he had played such a brilliant knock."

"That is the biggest six. That has gone 13 rows back in the grandstand. Goodness me."

Wiese back as SA shuffle their seamers. Stokes smacks him for four wide of long-off as the diving Abbott can't cut it off - then lets fly with an enormous six which flies a dozen rows back into the stand at wide long-on. Biggest hit of the day.

"This team, the way they bat, there is no holding back. You look back to teams a few years ago and it is completely different."

"That is an outrageous shot. Sometimes you doubt yourself and think 'did I just see that?'"

Tahir's off after the pummelling he's taken in the last couple of overs, and his replacement is the part-time medium pace of Farhaan Behardien, who might have expected to avoid having to bowl today. Stokes provocatively reverse-sweeps him for four with quick hands, then guides a single to fine leg. His 27 has come from 21 balls.

"The assault is on and if England can keep these two together then there will be some damage."

And suddenly, 350 doesn't look completely out of range...

A single means Root is breaking new ground with his highest ODI score, and Stokes is joining in the fun, despatching a half-tracker over mid-wicket for six.

Ian Bradley: For any opponents Root acts like a lethal virus, recovery is possible if you catch early, otherwise an agonizing demise awaits.

And... it pitched outside leg stump.

"I don't think Quinton de Kock is going to take up umpiring later in life," notes Vic Marks on TMS - De Kock certainly wasted both SA's reviews on Saturday, and he was absolutely sure this one was out. Which it wasn't.

Kagiso Rabada has been the pick of the SA bowlers with 2-35 from his first seven overs, but the first ball of his new spell is smacked for four wide of mid-on by Stokes. The second hits the left-hander on the pad, and almost immediately ABDV signals for a review...

England: 236-4 from 40 overs (won toss)

Batsmen: Root 121, Stokes 10

Fall of wickets: 36-1 (Roy 20), 161-2 (Hales 65), 162-3 (Buttler 0), 187-4 (Morgan 8)

Bowling figures: Abbott 8-0-35-0, Rabada 7-0-35-2, Morkel 9-0-56-0, Wiese 8-0-49-1, Tahir 8-0-56-0

Full scorecard

Far from Stokes having to provide the aggression, his job at the moment is just to get Root on strike... and Root blasts another four through extra cover which was inches away from going for six. A single takes him level with his highest previous ODI score of 121. Meanwhile, Tahir is looking for somewhere to hide.

"The way Root has evolved, so quick from good technical player for Test cricket, an Atherton with a few shots, to someone who can play all the shots has been impressive."

And nearly another one as Root tucks into Morkel again, smacking a first-bounce four wide of mid-wicket.

In case you were wondering, Root's seven ODI hundreds put him joint fourth on the England all-time list, together with Eoin Morgan and Lord Gower. Ahead of him are Graham Gooch (8), someone called Pietersen (9) and all-time leader Marcus Trescothick (12). Expect Root to ascend to the top of that list in the next couple of years.

Oli Major: Joe Root just may be the best batsman in the world. Almost always guarantees 50+ runs.

James Brandon: Joe Root has made a ton. I also predict the sun will rise tomorrow.

Stuart Mitchell: Rooooooooooooooooooooot, the class players perform when needed most, brilliant knock from Root.

Six more from Root, this time over cover! A powerful slap from the bowling of Morkel, and the young Yorkshireman has 112 from 98 balls, with four maximums.

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"A muted celebration, perhaps he feels there is more to come."

Another "hit me" full toss, another baseball swing from Root, another six - although this time it's been put down on the grassy bank. Tahir has 0-49 from seven overs, and England are likely to have three more from him to feast on.

"Very well played, efficiently done. They needed his runs and it has been an excellent innings, very clinical."

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An easy single to long-on brings Root his century from 95 balls. That's his seventh ODI ton in his 66th match, and without trying to hit the cover off it, he's still managed to go along at an impressive strike rate.

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Seamer Kasun Rajitha took two wickets on his international debut as Sri Lanka reduced India to 5-2 in the first over of their T20 match in Pune.

He dismissed Rohit Sharma with his second ball and then saw off Ajinkya Rahane with the last delivery of the over.

Can India recover? Follow their progress via our scorecard.

Abbott off, Morkel back, and after a legside wide, Root moves to 96 with a single to fine leg. Stoeks rotates the strike, Root adds a couple to move to 98, and a push through the covers... only brings him a single. No need to take such risks at this stage. And it's vintage Stokes as he drills the last ball of the over back past Morkel for his first boundary. 10 from the over, and England are cooking with gas.

Alex Walker: Has Buttler been hit with the IPL curse? Bought for big bucks and then goes on a decline for England?

Jay: Hmmm.... would have stuck the mortgage on Buttler not turning up.. IPL deal all done now.

"That got what it deserved."

A wicket brings Imran Tahir back into the attack. Stokes is off the mark with a single, and when Tahir serves up a juicy Steve Smith-style waist-high full toss. Root hoists it over mid-wicket and is well caught... by a man in a white cap on the grassy bank. Root's third six of the day.

Rachel T: Hmmmm. We need Big Ben to start striking.

Stuart Mitchell: Horrible inns from Morgan never looked likely, probably a good thing he's out in fairness.

Luke Swales: That Morgan wicket may be a blessing in disguise. He was crawling. Unleash the lion that is Stokes.

Ben Stokes replaces fellow left-hander (and fellow redhead) Morgan, and looks on as Root steers a two to long-off. Despite those doom-laden predictions of rain earlier, it's still looking set fair for now. Root isn't dawdling, a single takes him to an even 87 from 87 balls and brings Stokes on strike for the first time. He has a look for his first couple of deliveries.

"He barely timed a ball. It was just one of those days when just couldn’t get it."

"I don’t think that was a very good innings. I don’t think he assessed the pitch. He tried hard thrashing at the ball immediately when he came to the crease.

"I don’t think he assessed that that wasn’t the best way forward. I am sure it is getting harder to play the big shots as the ball gets softer.

"If he sits in the dressing room and contemplates he will look to play a different type of innings."

Wiese has bowled tidily today, certainly serving up fewer free pies than the Behardien/Duminy fifth-bowler combination did in Bloemfontein and PE. Root adds a single, Morgan steers a two to long-on.

"They mustn't get complacent. The game can change quite quickly."

Abbott to continue - which means that SA's four seamers will all have bowled seven overs by the end of this over, with spinner Tahir having sent down five. Root is still chugging along nicely, but Morgan misses with another pull shot - his six runs have come from a rather laboured 21 deliveries.

17 overs to go, we've been playing nearly two-and-a-half hours already, is ABDV looking at an over-rate fine here? It'll be a shortened interval whatever happens.

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"It will be interesting when we get to Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, who are hitters of the ball. It hasn't been difficult but not easy. I said last match, when Stokes came in to strike it, it wasn’t easy and it could finish up the same here."

Keir McCumiskey: Morgan playing like he's left his pancakes in the frying pan and the job on full heat. Slow down man!

He's certainly not going to "batter" South Africa the way he's been playing so far...

More drinks have been earned by the players. South Africa are in a huddle - can they put the brakes on England from here?

Tom Fisk: Imagine how good Joe Root is going to be when he's a fully grown adult! #babyface

ABDV shuffles his bowlers as Wiese returns - and Root shows his captain how you go about coming down the track to seamers, clattering his second six of the day over long-on where it hits a plastic chair just over the boundary.

Tahir's off after one over as the Proteas turn back to opening bowler Kyle Abbott - but once more, Morgan isn't quite timing the ball as well as we know he can, coming down the track to the pace bowler but not connecting. Root gets one in the ribs but helps it through mid-wicket for two, and a single takes him to 73.

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"It is a good pitch, just pick your ball. You don’t have to play big four-ball shots every ball.

"It looks frenetic, fraught this innings."

England: 168-3 from 30 overs (won toss)

Batsmen: Root 70, Morgan 3

Fall of wickets: 36-1 (Roy 20), 161-2 (Hales 65), 162-3 (Buttler 0)

Bowling figures: Abbott 5-0-25-0, Rabada 7-0-35-2, Morkel 7-0-35-0, Wiese 6-0-37-0, Tahir 5-0-31-0

Full scorecard

Root moves to 70 from exactly 70 balls as he turns Morkel to leg for a single, Morgan comes down the pitch and has a swing but he's beaten outside off stump - he's not long been in but is batting like a man in a hurry.

Simon Hughes said before play that 280-300 would be a good score here. If you're a follower of the "double-the-score-after-30-overs" maxim, 300 should be well within England's range - and I'd say 320-330 could well be a winning score on this pitch. (Famous last words?)

Morgan reverse-sweeps and misses, and is struck squarely in the chest. Even at Tahir's pace, that's got to hurt. Good over for SA.

Stuart Mitchell: So pleasing to have an ODI side that are playing with right attitude and confidence. All of a sudden looks a possible 400 pitch!

David Whittam: Good solid scoring from England. Time to put the foot on the gas now though.

Mat Harris: People moaning about scoring slowly. Looks like 300 is going to be par, we are on course for that.

As often happens, South Africa recall Imran Tahir immediately after a wicket falls - and Morgan goes after him straight away, slog-sweeping him where it reaches the mid-wicket sweeper on the first bounce. Root takes a single to fine leg - but having learned from the Jason Roy run-out, does not take a second run with the ball already in the fielder's hands.

"I just don’t think this is a belting pitch. I think there is something there for the bowlers."

Morkel begins his sixth over, the fact England now have a left-hand/right-hand combo at the crease (with all the attendant field changes) won't help the over-rate, after only 27 bowled in the first two hours. Morkel has a slip and a leg gully in place for Morgan, but Geoffrey Boycott on TMS immediately wants a second slip. The skipper is off the mark with a single to mid-wicket.

Ben Hoare: I turned on BBC TMS to listen to the Buttler heroics. Then he's out first ball. My bad. Sorry everyone.

Alex Walker: Mockers, I never ever learn.

The Buttler didn't deliver - so time for a quick shot of Captain Morgan. England skipper Eoin defends his first ball. Root still there at the other end on 67.

"What an incredible catch, my mouth is still open here."

"You sensed if Rabada was able to get short delivery right, with the pace he bowls, it would be hard to control. Hales tried, but he couldn't get his hands out in front in time. But he has done a brilliant job for England here today. He has been very consistent across the three games, he should be pleased."

"Jason Roy will be sat in the dressing room thinking ‘what on Earth did I do?’"

Wiese (0-37 from six) gives way to Morkel, but Root elegantly deflects the ball through the vacant slip cordon for four, before Hales cuts Morkel for four more, and hoists the third boundary of the over past square leg. A great over for England.

"That was a blacksmith's shot. It was not very Joe Root-esque. I think they should make 350 from here."

England reach the halfway point of their innings as Root mixes elegant drives and careful nudges with a four which he bludgeons across the line and away to the mid-wicket boundary. Rabada's radar is a bit off as he strays with a couple of wides. And Neil Manthorp on TMS thinks Rabada might have been warned for running on the wicket, as the umpire has had a quick word in AB de Villiers' ear...

"I think to be competitive, I think they need 280, 290 minimum. With the batting to come you can expect 320."

I think that's the first lbw appeal of the day - Wiese raises his arm in exhortation as he gets one to jag into Hales' back pad - did that do too much? The umpire is unmoved. And fortune continues to favour Hales as he gets a leading edge, the ball spoons into the air but drops just short of Du Plessis.

"England look like they have set a really good platform here. These two are starting to advance. They have got the run rate up to over 5.5 an over."

Root rides his luck, an inside edge flies past the leg stump and away for four. A single brings up the century stand - well done them.

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Michael Davis: 99 off 20 - concerned we are 20 short given probable D/L later.

Jack Allum: This partnership has scored at a hair's width above four an over. Pitch is not bad enough to see us score that slowly!

Some smart work on the third man boundary denies Hales another four - it's Farhaan Behardien doing the fielding, although Wiese's selection means Behardien's unlikely to have to bowl.

"50 from 53 balls. Brilliant, brilliant this from England."

Now it's Root's turn to salute the dressing-room after another dabbed single, this time into the covers.

"He is in really good form. What is interesting is how consistent he has become."

Rabada returns in place of the expensive Tahir, and Hales is the first of the two England batsmen to reach the landmark, dabbing a single off his hip for his fifth ODI fifty from 60 balls.

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"He didn’t get his body in that athletic position to really hold onto it."

Half a chance? Root chases one outside off stump, the ball goes low to keeper Quinton de Kock's right and he can't lay a hand on it as the ball bounces under his outstretched mitt. It's away for four - both batsmen are close to raising their bats for a half-century.

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"A skimmer and it just kept going through the thin air. He will like that one, Joe."

Where did that come from? Root leans back and hits a low, skimming six over cow corner!

England are still milking Tahir for ones and twos - but with Buttler still in the hutch, there's plenty of firepower to come in this England XI. Hales finally connects with only his fifth boundary of the day, squeezing a four between mid-off and extra cover - and when SA move the field to put in a deep cover, Hales effortlessly sweeps another four to where the fielder had just been removed!

"It feels like old Joe but I don’t think he is 25 yet. He is the rock in the middle order."

England: 99-1 from 20 overs (won toss)

Batsmen: Hales 35, Root 36

Fall of wickets: 36-1 (Roy 20)

Bowling figures: Abbott 5-0-25-0, Rabada 4-0-18-0, Morkel 4-0-17-0, Wiese 4-0-19-0, Tahir 3-0-15-0

Full scorecard

"Fantastic shot. Brilliant shot. Just fractionally short and pummeled to deep square leg."

Hales has a big heave-ho against Wiese, but only connects with fresh air. Had he connected, it would have sailed out of the ground and at this altitude probably up, up and away to bother any passing wildebeest. Root shows him how it's done with a well-timed pull shot past the square leg umpire. He's overtaken Hales.

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Stephen Miller: Of course one-day form should count for Test selection (see 12th over) - if you're a Test cricketer, which Alex Hales isn't.

Luke Marshall: Tests & limited overs cricket require different skill sets. But then again, there's David Warner.

Charles Tilley: If not Hales to open in Tests then who? This opener merry-go-round to quote Boycott, is absolutely rubbish!

Root tucks into a shorter delivery from Tahir but is struggling to beat the infield which includes livewire fielders Du Plessis and De Villiers. But after three dot balls, he manages to break the shackles, slog-sweeping the leg-spinner for four. Tahir has 0-15 from three.

Kieron Bird: When England bat, I live in fear of my phone beeping incase it's a wicket alert. When England bowl, it's the most exciting sound.

You can sign up for news alerts via the BBC Sport app.

"A hint of this guy’s action reminds me of Alan Donald, obviously not as quick."

"I know who I would rather face," Vic Marks replies.

The tall Wiese resumes proceedings, and England's steady progress continues as Hales and Root's second-wicket stand reaches 50 from 74 balls. Root has contributed 26 to the partnership, Hales adding 23.

"It is a good contest. England haven’t lost a wicket to a bowler just a careless run out. South Africa have been good in the field, they look sharp. 

"England have been good but quite cagey. They are playing another way today, it hasn’t been crash, bang, wallop."

While the players take drinks, some news from Ireland's latest T20 international in Australia.

They lost by 11 runs to Papua New Guinea in Townsville, Queensland, but finished as 2-1 winners in the series.

Sese Bau (25) and Charles Amini (24) helped Papua New Guinea post 116-8 while Tim Murtagh picked up three wickets.

Niall O'Brien top-scored with 27 but Ireland slipped from 49-2 to 105 all out on a sluggish pitch.

Read the full report here.

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As if to confirm his status as one of the world's premier fielders, now it's De Villiers' turn to shine as Root looks to get after Tahir. Three singles added, time for drinks.

"It is a wonderful aspect of the one-day game, to see the fielding."

Wiese is steady but unspectacular, though he's helped by a couple of fabulous stops by Faf du Plessis at backward point, twice plucking the ball out of the air on the bounce to deny Hales and then Root likely boundaries. FDP would definitely be a contender (as would his captain De Villiers) if you were putting together a World Fielding XI. I think Ben Stokes might get into that team too.

Simon Mann asks should England's talisman Jos Buttler come in at the fall of the next wicket?

"Why not? There is no earthly reason why not. If I said, ‘who is the best playing in one day cricket? Buttler? Morgan? Or Stokes?’ I think I would get a high percentage Buttler, you have to put your best in."

Steve K: Did Geoffrey get out of bed the wrong side this morning? He seems particularly grumpy today.

Aaron Bohlman: Geoffrey is not taking any prisoners today! Poor Neil Manthorp!

In fact, it's a double change int he bowling as leg-spinner Imran Tahir bounces in for his first over of the day. He's always likely to drag one down short each over - and Hales waits for his opportunity to crash a four through the covers, hitting off the back foot from a ball on middle and leg. He has 29 from 41 balls.

"An ugly-looking, great shot because it has gone for four!"

David Wiese, brought into the side today to boost South Africa's bowling options, comes on to bowl at his home ground. A tall, medium-fast right-arm seamer, Wiese is plundered for a couple of singles before Root smears him for four between mid-wicket and mid-on. Not pretty, but effective. He's nearly catching Hales up.

Andy: Before the Pakistan series people were questioning Hales in ODIs... He needs more of a chance to settle in and go big.  

Just the three bowlers used so far, it's been nothing but right-arm seam as Morkel begins his fourth over. Root threads a two to the cover sweeper, but I think it's fair to say this is unlikely to be another 400 v 400 game going by the first hour of play.

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Abbott is charged with a wide by umpire Gaffaney for a bouncer which is well out of Hales' reach. Two singles added, but we've not had a boundary for a couple of overs.

Meanwhile, it doesn't sound as though Geoffrey will be going into bat for Hales to resume his Test career in May. "He's had his chance," Boycs says. But what do you think - should one-day form play any part in Test selection? Text, tweet or email us.

Here's some of your efforts in the caption competition

Len Morrison: Can you really believe Amla quit mid-series?!

Dan Adams: If you don't want KP can we have him back?

Scotty B: Hi AB do you flip or toss your pancakes in South Africa?!

The initial 10-over fielding restrictions are dispensed with as Hales and Root help themselves to three singles against Morkel. Meanwhile, Neil Manthorp and Geoffrey Boycott are discussing the recent IPL auction on TMS. SA seamer Chris Morris, who went for a million dollars, is on the bench again today, while Jos Buttler went for a bargain £385,000.

"It was a heave from Root. He looked like he was trying to carry a heavy bag of potatoes over his shoulder with that one."

England: 56-1 from 10 overs

Batsmen: Hales 20, Root 9

Fall of wickets: 36-1 (Roy 20)

Bowling figures: Abbott 4-0-22-0, Rabada 4-0-18-0, Morkel 2-0-11-0

Full scorecard

Root thinks he's got his eye in by now - as he comes down the wicket and clomps the recalled Abbott over the top for four.

Hales takes a quick single to AB de Villiers - there's bravery for you - and the fizzing throw to the bowler's end just misses the stumps. Hales would have been a couple of feet short if it had hit. What is it with England and their running between the wickets today? Fifty up.

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"The South African bowling hasn’t got enough discipline about it. You have to make it really hard for the batsmen by bowling a consistent line. I do not think it is up to scratch."

Root makes some running repairs to his bat between overs, but there's nothing wrong with his blade as he dabs the ball to mid-on and scampers a single. Morkel tries another short delivery, Hales pulls and it flies off a top edge and over the keeper for four. A single means he has 19 off 22 balls.

Rabada still has two slips in, but Hales is happy to plunder singles to third man from anything served up wide - and they're still peppering Root with the odd bumper, before Root pushes a fuller delivery to mid-wicket for one.

Theo Bowyer: Criminal from Roy... A dive would have saved him!

Mou 84: Sand needs to be brushed up from that Centurion wicket. Roy's bat got stuck in the ground.

"It has been the same sort of bowling from South Africa, good balls but some sloppy short balls. 20, 30 runs can make the difference."

The gentle giant Morne Morkel, newly crowned demon fielder of the Highveld, is into the attack in place of Abbott. Hales is moving up through the gears with a two and a single - Root's first ball from Morkel is also a bouncer, as though it's a tactic they have planned for the young Yorkshire tyke. But he fends it off for a single, and Hales nicks the strike by dabbing one to third man. Stand by your beds, Boycott's coming on TMS...

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"That really is a gimme wicket."

Replays show Roy was only really jogging that first run. And it appeared to be a late call for the second.

Joe Root in at first drop for England. His first ball is a bouncer, which he evades.

"Perhaps he should have dived. That was a poorly judged run because the bowler was in the way. Roy assumed because it was Morkel he would struggle to get it back. He didn't even run the first run quickly - but he'll learn from that."

Rabada was impressive in the Test series, but his line and length hasn't been quite what his captain would have wanted today, as Roy tucks into a shorter delivery and pulls it for four. Probably one of the Surrey right-hander's favourite shots. Roy then pushes the ball to third man, comes back for a second run and has to take a rather roundabout route, having to run round the bowler. South Africa appeal for a run-out, third ump having a look...

"A very positive, smooth start for England, so far. Maybe they don’t set targets anymore, just get out there and bat."

Hales guides Abbott for four just past second slip - cynics might suggest that it was the sort of shot which would have seen him caught at third slip in a Test... I wonder if he'll be walking out with Captain Cook when the Sri Lanka Test series begins in May? His Test struggles aside, there's no doubt about his ability in limited-overs cricket as Hales squeezes his second boundary of the over past backward point.

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On her scary, storm-hit flight from Port Elizabeth: "I genuinely thought it was the moment. I said, 'I love you Mum' or something."

There are still plenty of empty seats at Centurion as Roy continues to dominate the scoring, a controlled pull shot off Rabada bringing him four past the diving man at long leg. An exchange of singles means Hales is finally off the mark, though to be fair to the Notts man he's only faced five of the 24 legitimate deliveries sent down today.

"It is going to be an interesting wicket to bat on. 

"Sometimes you are not sure if it will fly through or keep low. Both batsmen will be wary of it."

Still some variable bounce from Abbott, but Roy takes a couple of steps down the track and lifts him over mid-on for four. SA respond by bringing fine leg up, allowing them to put another fielder back. A single takes Roy into double figures

Jon Dunn: England go with five specialist batsmen, two all-rounders, three bowlers & uniquely, one specialist fielder.

Thomas Measures: Other teams around the world must be so envious of England, not only have one world class all-rounder, but two in Mo and Stokes.

Amos Kemp: Really don't mind Broad not being picked. He's far more destructive in red-ball cricket. He's only there if someone gets injured. 

Roy adds a leg bye to the score, bringing Alex Hales on strike for the first time. And Rabada also finds some lift, pinging in a bouncer which beats both batsman and wicketkeeper, and disappears for four byes. Extras top scoring so far.

Vic's not wrong about those thunderstorms, by the way. AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and TMS's Ebony Rainford-Brent were all aboard a plane which had a bit of a scary landing in a storm the other day, while the first women's ODI on Sunday was interrupted by rain, thunderbolts and lightning (very, very frightening). But it's blue skies and fluffy clouds for now.

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"That is quite a brave shot but he committed to it and played it on the top of the bounce."

Kagiso Rabada takes the second over - and as if he's spent the first over getting his eye in, Roy immediately takes the attack to Rabada with a well-timed extra-cover drive for four.

"I don’t think I have ever attended a match in Centurion that hasn’t been affected by weather at some point.

"Thunderstorms roll in, you don’t get much drizzle here, hopefully they will go out of the way today."

Abbott starts with two slips - who are nearly called into action for the first ball of the day as it's a wide which keeper Quinton de Kock has to take, moving across to his right towards first slip. But Roy plays and misses at one that lifts and whizzes past him. If you weren't with us earlier, TMS's Simon Hughes thinks this could be a two-paced pitch. And we have our first run off the bat as Roy flicks a single off his toes.

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Dave Fletcher: Ready for kick off BBC cricket multiple windows open on PC to help hide the BBC TMS commentary from the boss #shhhh

Umpires today are South Africa's Johan Cloete - who, let's be fair, made a couple of shocking decisions on Saturday - and New Zealand's Chris Gaffaney. Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena has swapped with Gaffaney and is on TV replays today.

Teams are ready - Kyle Abbott to take the first over to England's regular openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales.

"What would be interesting would be if South Africa get some early wickets. How would they regroup from 40-3?"

"It would a be a major, major achievement for England to win this series after only three games."

Laurie West-Knights: BBC say tossed coin fell more slowly at Centurion - altitude. It would be the other way round.

Physics never my forte, apologies. But Shaun Pollock definitely said the coin took a while to come down!

"I have never seen him play and he is 30. He is a brisk medium-pacer and has got a pretty good domestic record with bat and ball.

"His figures suggest that he is a genuine all-rounder and that has been a big difference between the teams."

Anthem time. England up first, then South Africa - the first few bats of the intro sound like they're being played on a very elderly piano.

"The better the pitch, the more bowling options you need. South Africa like to use Imran Tahir as an attacking weapon, bringing him on immediately after a wicket, but that does mean he has to bowl four or five spells."

Simon Mann adds: "The 'fifth bowler' for South Africa has combined figures of 20 overs, 1-155 in this series."

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir. 

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Reece Topley.

More from England captain Eoin Morgan: "To have a guy with the potential that Jos Buttler has is great for us. 

"He is a senior player in our young dressing room and a lot of guys look up to him in that group."

Buttler followed his century in the 1st ODI with an unbeaten 48 from 28 balls in the second.

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"If England win this series, they'd be the first team to win a Test and ODI series in South Africa since the all-conquering Australia side in 2001-02."

You can listen to TMS today on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave, via the BBC iPlayer Radio app and BBC Sport app, online or via your mobile device.

Paul Lewis: Can't work out why Broad is in the squad if they aren't going to play him. Are England picking Jordan just for his fielding?

You're not the first person to suggest that about Jordan. However, that stunning catch on Saturday to dismiss ABDV arguably saved England more than the 33 runs Jordan conceded in his five overs?

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If you're not familiar with Centurion, England will be playing this game - and the 4th ODI in Johannesburg - at altitude. That generally means the ball flies through the air a little easier than at sea level. Even at the toss, Shaun Pollock seemed to suggest that the coin took longer than usual to come down...

Test Match Special is just around the corner - they're on air from 11:15.

South Africa's bowling was left rather exposed on Saturday, when their tactic of employing four specialist bowlers and making up the fifth's allocation with part-timers didn't work. David Wiese is only playing his fourth ODI, but has a rather better bowling record of 20 wickets in 12 Twenty20 internationals.

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England captain Eoin Morgan: "We have had a good start to the series and there is no need to make any changes.

"I think we could make changes and we would still have all bases covered."

England have won the toss and will bat first. They're unchanged for the third successive game.

SA skipper AB de Villiers says he would have fielded first anyway. They bring in all-rounder David Wiese for batsman Rilee Rossouw, addressing some of the concerns about their bowling line-up.

We're awaiting the toss. Team news as we get it.

The contrast of one-day cricket was shown in the first two games of this series. In Bloemfontein, England racked up 399 on a pitch full of runs, and despite a battling century from Quinton de Kock, South Africa fell short on Duckworth-Lewis when the weather intervened.

Then in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, a lower-scoring game saw the Proteas post 262, before Alex Hales' 99 and a characteristically astonishing Jos Buttler cameo set England on the way to another win.

Morning, everyone. It's Pancake Day - and England's one-day international side have been flipping impressive of late. They're already 2-0 up in this five-match series against South Africa - victory at Centurion today would see them wrap up the series with two matches to go. When was the last time they did that?