England fail final Champions Trophy audition as they fall to seven-wicket defeat after frenetic top-order collapse

Within three weeks, England will know whether their top order is their Achilles heel or whether their batting collapse against South Africa - the worst of its kind in their ODI history as they crumbled to 20 for six in the first five overs - was just a one-off to be laughed off. It was something they could afford in a bilateral series, which they had already won, but not in a knock-out match in the Champions Trophy that starts on Thursday.

The first two one-dayers had shown up England’s vulnerability, before centuries by Eoin Morgan at Headingley and Ben Stokes at the Ageas Bowl cemented those cracks. At Lord’s, after a night of thunderstorms, it was an even more influential toss for AB de Villiers to win, and England had at most only half of one answer - in Jonny Bairstow’s 50 - to South Africa’s swing bowling.

In statistical context, this was only the second time since the 2015 World Cup that England had been dismissed for below 200, while the same approach has brought them 21 totals above 300. Very occasionally, therefore, England’s fearlessness will come a cropper. The trouble is that these occasions are more liable to occur on a damp day in early season England, the conditions in which the Champions Trophy will be contested.

Of the half-dozen batsmen who departed in those five overs, half complied in their dismissal, half did not. Jason Roy, Joe Root and Morgan himself were the three who received perfect swinging deliveries, either from Wayne Parnell who brought the new ball down the slope from the pavilion end, or from Kagiso Rabada, the man of the match, from the Nursery.

Cruising in with the smoothest of runs, Rabada then sucked and suckered Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid into cover-drives at his outswingers. Bairstow, brought in to rest Stokes and his left knee, showed how to play the conditions, either by leaving the ball or by getting his head in line if he did drive, but halfway through the rehabilitation process he got giddy against the left-arm spin of Kesha Maharaj, as did a couple of tailenders, leaving Toby Roland-Jones unbeaten and unrivalled for his common sense on his England debut.

Expectations of England in the tournament, which they launch on Thursday at the Oval against Bangladesh, have to be modified: the hosts have an exceptional hitting, rather than batting, line-up.

The sound techniques and sober heads of Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes are indispensable at seven and eight when the top order decides not to be very, very good but horrid.

England’s vulnerability stems from having two opening batsmen who are both high-risk hitters, capable of big hundreds that have destroyed some attacks. But since Roy and Hales enjoyed their field-day against Sri Lanka when they shared the world-record partnership of 256, they have not put on 50 for the first wicket - and the only time they have put on so much as 40 was against Ireland.

Roy and Sam Billings have launched England solidly with 50-plus stands, so too Roy and James Vince, but not Roy and Hales in their last 16 attempts. A more robust top three would consist of Roy or Hales opening with Root, and Bairstow at three, but it is too late to switch now. The memory of promoting Gary Ballance to No 3 on the eve of the last World Cup, dropping James Taylor down the order and Ravi Bopara altogether, is too vivid a scar on Morgan’s memory

An unfruitful IPL, when Roy had to come in down the order against spin, has been followed by a total of 20 runs in the series against Ireland, and 13 against South Africa. Were he to have another failure against Bangladesh, and seen to be getting down on himself - as he used to do when he misfielded for England - perhaps then a change might have to be made.

Taking three South African wickets helped to exonerate England’s collapse and raise their spirits before the end of their final dress rehearsal. Although the sun came out, it then disappeared, and Jake Ball found some seam movement under the floodlights - and the ball carried to the keeper and slips all day because of more grass, and therefore bounce, than usual at Lord’s.

David Willey might not have risked a drive on the up, with the score on 82 for six, if he had known how roughly treated again his bowling was to be treated, even more so than by Ireland. Hashim Amla clipped and glanced the ball if Willey swung it, and cover-drove it if he did not - to go with Amla’s two slip catches, after his two drops in the previous game when South Africa missed six chances in all.

By playing their strongest pace attack for the first time in this series, the tourists far more closely resembled the world’s top-ranked one-day team. For England, once Stokes, Moeen and Woakes have been restored, along with Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood, it could still be all right on the night.

4:58PM

Well done to England

They go into the Champions Trophy in pretty good fettle. One or two worries about injuries (Stokes, Moeen) and one or two worries about decision-making (could they have sized up the conditions better once they saw the ball was moving?) But, yeah, England go into the contest with realistic hopes of winning it, as do pretty much everyone else though!

I'll sign off now and stick the match report up. Cheers!

4:55PM

Eoin Morgan

4:51PM

AB de Villiers speaks

4:48PM

Player of the series, as chosen by the press 

Eoin Morgan

4:47PM

Kagiso Rabada is the MotM

He tells Mike Atherton.

4:45PM

The MCC faithful have stayed behind to roar on their heroes

4:36PM

Report and reaction to follow

A comprehensive win. Once England were 20/6 in five overs... well, this match has been over for a while.

4:33PM

South Africa(156/3 off 28.5 overs) beat England (153 off 31.1 overs) by seven wickets

and with 127 balls remaining.

England win the series 2-1

4:32PM

OVER 28.5: SA 156/3 (Duminy 28* de Villiers 27*)

Willey's mediocre spell is done - and so is this match. He serves up a wide one for AB de V, who crushes it through point. A single, and now JP Duminy finishes with a flourish, creaming the ball through the covers delightfully.

4:30PM

OVER 28: SA 147/3 (Duminy 24* de Villiers 22*)       

Five off Finn's over, South Africa on the brink of a morale-boosting victory. They've taken their time. Worth bearing in mind that run rate will be used as a tiebreaker in the Champions Trophy. If, for instance, each side in a group finished on two wins, then...

Anyway, that's for tomorrow. For now, they need seven runs to win.

4:25PM

OVER 27: SA 142/3 (Duminy 21* de Villiers 20*)      

Willey comes on an is soon the unwitting straight-man in the AB de Villiers show. The Pretoria-born genius down early to scoop for four, then yahoos through backward point for another boundary. 

4:23PM

OVER 26: SA 132/3 (Duminy 20* de Villiers 11*)     

AB looks like he is starting to find his mojo. Slots Finn down the ground. Duminy helps himself to a boundary at third man also. Lots of people beginning to leave the ground as South Africa ease to this win.

4:16PM

OVER 25: SA 121/3 (Duminy 13* de Villiers 7*)    

At the nominal half-way point, South Africa have moved onto 121. AB getting a rather sluggish scoreboard moving with a four. Didn't time it perfectly but good enough.

4:13PM

OVER 24: SA 115/3 (Duminy 13* de Villiers 1*)   

South Africa pottering towards this skinnybitch total. My attention has half turned elsewhere, to Chelmsford, where Kumar Sangakkara has moved onto 79* in pursuit of a SIXTH consecutive first class ton. Bad light has halted the great man's charge.

4:07PM

OVER 23: SA 112/3 (Duminy 11* de Villiers 0*)  

Floodlights are on, not easy batting conditions. Another maiden. This one from Toby RJ to Duminy. Ball doing a bit, squaring him up.

4:04PM

OVER 22: SA 112/3 (Duminy 11* de Villiers 0*) 

Three slips and a gully for Finny as he bowls to AB. These South African boys have been around a LONG time, eh? 219 matches for AB, 153 for Hash, 174 for JPD, 110 for Faf, 109 for Morne, 96 for Miller and 82 for QdK. Is this the tournament when it all finally comes together for the perennial nearly-men?

This is a nice opportunity for a bit of a net, get some time in the middle under the belt. De Villiers contents himself with a maiden.

4:00PM

A fine OBO spell from Ben Curtis

Has he bowled England back into this? Surely not, but who knows, couple of wickets, nerves start a-janglin'... the spectre of the choke...

Tyers here now until the close.

3:57PM

OVER 21: SA 112/3 (Duminy 11* de Villiers 0*)

Classy shot from Duminy, who gets on top of the rising ball to punch it to the boundary. Lovely stuff.

He tucks one into leg for a couple before nearly edging to slip, dropping just short. 

I will hand you back over to Alan Tyers.

3:53PM

OVER 20: SA 106/3 (Duminy 5* de Villiers 0*)

Ball has been very threatening since lunch and continues to be as he starts his final over. 

He gets one to jag back up the hill to de Villiers, somehow missing the stumps and the inside edge.

Just one off the over. Ball finishes with 2-43 off his 10.

3:50PM

OVER 19: SA 104/3 (Duminy 4* de Villiers 0*) 

Roland-Jones again keeps it tight. Duminy inside-edges into the leg-side for a single, but it's a near-faultless over. 50 more required for South Africa.

3:46PM

Wicket! SA 103/3 - du Plessis 5 c Buttler b Ball

Huge shout from some of England's close fielders, including bowler Jake Ball, as a noise is heard as the ball passes du Plessis's bat. Eoin Morgan is unmoved and will not review. Replays show he's absolutely correct, the bat clipping the back pad.

But Ball does not have long to wait until he gets his man, du Plessis swinging outside off stump and nicking to Buttler.

3:42PM

OVER 17: SA 99/2 (Duminy 0* du Plessis 4*) 

Roland-Jones is finding his mark nicely now after a tricky first 11 balls, bowling a maiden over against Duminy. 

South Africa, of course, in no particular rush needing 55 runs off 33 overs.

3:36PM

Wicket! SA 95/2 - De Kock 34 b Ball

Well, well, well. It's all a bit too late for England, but Jake Ball removes De Kock bowling him with a full delivery from around the wicket.

Both openers removed. Duminy and Du Plessis in. The latter cuts over the slip fielders for four to get off the mark. 99-2.

3:30PM

Wicket! SA 95/1 - Amla 51 b Roland-Jones

Now it's De Kock in the runs, sending a low full toss down the ground for another four, before hitting it in the same region, albeit not as well timed, for a couple.

Runs have been coming with ease for South Africa since the break.

Amla receives a half-volley and duly dispatches it through the covers for four. Nasser Hussain on commentary calls it a 'throw-down', Roland-Jones kicks the foot hole in disgust.

But he's soon smiling as he bowls Hashim Amla with the final ball of the 15th over, dragging on for 55. Not a bad one to get for the debutant. 

3:26PM

OVER 14: SA 84/0 (Amla 51* de Kock 27*) 

Ball heads into his seventh over and continues to pose a threat. He's unlucky with his fifth delivery, finding the inside edge of Amla's bat and watching it go down for four. 

That's 50 for Amla in as many balls.  He's looked in fine form.

3:22PM

OVER 13: SA 75/0 (Amla 43* de Kock 27*) 

Debutant Toby Roland-Jones is into the attack - and nearly gets a wicket with his first ball. De Kock swings at a wide-ish delivery and it only just misses the edge.

The South Africa opener finds the boundary, leaning into a length delivery, before taking another couple. That's eight off the over. South Africa almost halfway to victory.

3:17PM

OVER 12: SA 67/0 (Amla 42* de Kock 20*)       

Hello!

We're back again after lunch with South Africa well set for victory. Jake Ball starts things off, bowling a little too straight and allowing Amla to clip it into the leg-side for two.

Amla then drives on the up, through the covers and the ball trickles down the hill for four. 

Ball gets one past the bat with his final delivery, but it's not going England's way at the moment.

2:44PM

Thoughts of red ball cricket?

If the longer format is more your thing, have a think about about this tour to Australia for the upcoming Ashes. You'll get to go the Melbourne and Sydney Tests and pick the cricketing brains of Jonathan Agnew, Scyld Berry and Nick Hoult.

After lunch, Ben Curtis is your host for a while.

2:34PM

Interval: South Africa (57/0 off 11 overs) need 95 runs to beat England (153)

As one-sided a contest as you could imagine, albeit that the series is already settled. It was all over by the fifth over, in truth, with England 20/6. Bit of rain about but that will surely be only a temporary impediment. Join us in half an hour or so and we'll see how it concludes.

2:32PM

OVER 11: SA 57/0 (Amla 34* de Kock 20*)         

Single to each man. South Africa have had a flawless day; their openers stride off knowing that they are just 95 runs from a welcome victory. 234 balls and ten wickets in hand.

No sign of Roland-Jones yet with the ball.

2:29PM

OVER 10: SA 57/0 (Amla 33* de Kock 19*)        

Powerplay comes to a close with a one-run over. Fewer than 100 needed and South Africa are cruising here, unless something biblical happens in the weather department.

2:24PM

OVER 9: SA 56/0 (Amla 33* de Kock 18*)       

Good duel between Finn and Amla. Steve beats him with a jaffa outside off, but the great man has soon caressed the ball through the covers for four, and then another fine shot through point. Masterful stuff, the only shame is that we won't get to seem him for a full day.

Nice split screen showing his equal excellence off back (left) and front foot.

2:22PM

OVER 8: SA 48/0 (Amla 25* de Kock 18*)      

England flagging badly here, this lunch interval cannot come soon enough. Who knows, maybe the rain will come. Ball causes de Kock to flash outside off, but it's a momentary lapse of reason at best.

2:18PM

OVER 7: SA 42/0 (Amla 24* de Kock 13*)     

Steve Finn replaces Willey. Amla crunches his first delivery for four through the legside. That gives him 7,000 runs in ODIs. In 150 matches. Nobody has reached that mark quicker.

Pollock: "When he started, I was certain he was going to make it at Test level" but he was not so sure that Hash would go on to be an undisputed ODI great. Indeed. I remember when he was thought a bit of a slowcoach.

2:13PM

OVER 6: SA 36/0 (Amla 19* de Kock 12*)    

The umps have to give this one as a wide from Ball. Well, at least it swung, I guess. Hash would have needed the spider rest and the cue extension to pot that one.

2:10PM

OVER 5: SA 34/0 (Amla 18* de Kock 12*)   

Willey unable to find swing, and that makes him a sitting duck. Willey onto the de Kock pads, clipped for four. Now a half-volley onto the leg stump and that gets a similar treatment. Any hopes England had of playing on SA low confidence/mental fragility are evaporating fast.

2:07PM

OVER 4: SA 23/0 (Amla 17* de Kock 3*)  

Good ball, Ball! The great Amla saved by an inside edge from an lbw shout, and as a bonus, it skitters away for four to leg.

2:06PM

Gloriously childish

2:02PM

OVER 3: SA 15/0 (Amla 12* de Kock 2*) 

Willey strays unwisely on to the Amla pads and the inevitable result is a no-fuss clip for four. Rain has abated a tad and I think we will stick with it until 2.30pm.

1:57PM

OVER 2: SA 10/0 (Amla 8* de Kock 1*) 

England appeal for a catch here. I reckon they're gaming Rod Tucker, because this never looks out, but it certainly looks like a wide. Perhaps fixating on the catch appeal, Tucker opts not to call a wide. Two in two overs for England there. 

Just a couple off the Ball over. It is raining.

1:54PM

OVER 1: SA 8/0 (Amla 8* de Kock 0*)

Two boundaries in the first over. First ball of it, Amla crunches through point for four. Fourth ball, tucked off the pads for another boundary. Fifth delivery, could well have been called wide but umpire Gough is in benevolent mood.

1:44PM

Bok reply incoming

David Willey will bowl as England begin their 'defence' of 153. It's the fourth lowest score batting first in an ODI at HQ.

India defended 183 in the 1983 World Cup Final but that was in the old money.

1:41PM

England all out 153 (31.1 overs)

From 20/6 in the first five overs, that represents something of a recovery, but England are surely going to lose from here.

South Africa's reply will begin shortly.

1:40PM

WICKET! Finn c de Villiers b Maharaj 3

A soft dismissal to end a soft batting display. Finny tries to work the spinner to leg, ends up just dollying it to midwicket and that's the simplest chance you could wish for. FOW 153/10

1:38PM

OVER 31: ENG 153/9 (Roland-Jones 37* Finn 3* )    

Rabada with a spicy bouncer, Toby is game for a laugh and takes it on. Top edge. Three for that to fine leg. Rabada continues with his policy. Roland-Jones looking to fetch it. Last ball of the over is a nasty bumper that follows hi. TRJ gets out of the way of that. 

1:33PM

OVER 30: ENG 145/9 (Roland-Jones 32* Finn 2* )   

It's an all-Middlesex affair as Finn joins Roland-Jones at the Lord's crease. Steve is up and running first ball as he clips it off the pads for two.

Rabada will bowl the next over. Incidentally, if England are bowled out before 2pm then South Africa will have a short bat before lunch.

1:31PM

WICKET! Ball b Maharaj 7

Jake living, and soon dying, by the sword. He plays across a delivery, and de Kock should have stumped him. No matter. A couple of cherries later, he tries to slog-sweep, gets an inside edge and is slightly unlucky to drag it onto his stumps, I guess. Jake was going for everything, and in between those two incidents he had managed a nice drive through the covers. FOW 143/9

1:24PM

OVER 29: ENG 137/8 (Roland-Jones 32* Ball 1* )  

That's drinks. Single apiece and a wide from Rabada down leg.

1:22PM

OVER 28: ENG 134/8 (Roland-Jones 31* Ball 0* ) 

An eventful over, that. TRJ was struck on the pads first ball of it, the ball would have gone on to clip the top of leg stump but you can see why the umpire gave it not out. I click my tongue in irritation when the TV Umpire says "well done" to his onfield colleague. He got the decision wrong, you know.

Anyhow, Bairstow fell third ball and that's surely the ball-game.

1:18PM

WICKET! Bairstow st de Kock b Maharaj 51

Oh dear, well, that really is out. YJB comes down the pitch, giving himself room. The ball pitches and turns away from his outside edge, and he is stumped by two yards. A useful knock but it surely won't be enough. FOW 134/8

1:15PM

OVER 27: ENG 133/7 (Bairstow 51* Roland-Jones 30*)

Rabada is driven back down the ground for four by Roland-Jones. Lovely stuff. England beginning to entertain thoughts of a score that is merely hopelessly inadequate rather than actively laughable.

1:10PM

OVER 26: ENG 128/7 (Bairstow 51* Roland-Jones 25*)      

Meanwhile, Maharaj is back on to bowl from the Pavilion End and he has soon found himself swept behind square for four runs by YJB. Fifty runs! Well batted Jonny.

1:06PM

OVER 25: ENG 124/7 (Bairstow 47* Roland-Jones 25*)     

AB has had enough of this tomfoolery and sends for Rabada. But England have the wind at their backs now and Bairstow is able to plays two delicate shots, nicely timed, for a four and three.

1:04PM

OVER 24: ENG 117/7 (Bairstow 40* Roland-Jones 25*)    

And now Parnell is the next to feel the lash of Toby Roland-Jones, hammer of the Bok, The Ashford (Middx) Assassin. An overpitched ball is driven crisply to the cover boundary, Parnell over-corrects and drops short. The Double-Barreled Destroyer cuts the ball firmly for four. The hapless Parnell wishes he had stayed home in Port Elizabeth.

1:00PM

OVER 23: ENG 109/7 (Bairstow 40* Roland-Jones 17*)   

Stand aside, mortals, Toby Roland-Jones is having a moment. The debutant is flaying the ball hither and yon around his home ground. Whack! Morris is pulled to fine leg. Whack! A top edge sails over long leg for six. Not exactly proper cricket shots but England are in no position to be picky. With the Watford Wall still to come, England have South Africa right under the cosh at, erm, 109/7 and Morris has no answer to Toby's Streaky Blade.

12:56PM

OVER 22: ENG 98/7 (Bairstow 40* Roland-Jones 6*)  

Parnell with a flamboyant bouncer, five wides over Roland-Jones. Standard practice to check out how an international cricket newbie responds to the short stuff, but I dunno if an ODI at Lord's is the best classroom for that exam. I'd rather see Wayne pitch it up outside off and have him caught. Still.

12:50PM

OVER 21: ENG 91/7 (Bairstow 39* Roland-Jones 5*) 

Go'orn Toby! The big Middx pacer unfurls an attractive off drive, earning himself four runs through mid-off for so doing. Morris yet to threaten, his three overs have gone for 18.

12:45PM

OVER 20: ENG 87/7 (Bairstow 39* Roland-Jones 1*)

Toby is off the mark with a bit of a Red Bull single. Home safe.

YJB pulls the ball crisply for a boundary. England's lowest ODI score, at least, has been averted.

12:39PM

Toby Roland-Jones comes to the crease on debut

A proud moment for Toby, and for Middlesex. Here's Gus Fraser giving him his cap before play.

England's first double-barreled (male) cricketer for 82 years!  The last was Mandy Mitchell-Innes (glorious name). Mandy was a dude not a lady. Played one Test, v the Bok, at Trent Bridge in 1935.

12:36PM

WICKET! Willey c Duminy b Parnell 26

That's it! The ball is not full enough for this expansive drive, and Willey has lofted that to Duminy at extra cover. JPD does the necessary with a low, decent catch. FOW 82/7

12:34PM

OVER 19: ENG 82/6 (Bairstow 35* Willey 26*)

Weather has been friendlier than we were promised. Showers not materialised yet, although there is one forecast for 2pm. We shall see. 

Here's Chris Morris anyhow, a lean fellow, tall-ish, pace min the high 80s and a useful line in a useful line. Handy man with the bat coming in at seven.

Three off the over, Morris owes Faf an attaboy for a superb stop in the covers.

12:31PM

OVER 18: ENG 79/6 (Bairstow 34* Willey 24*)            

Wayne Parnell replaces Morkel. Said Mokel soon makes a tall fast bowler's job of a simple bit of fielding at mid on, gifting Willey a couple. Three off the over.

12:29PM

OVER 17: ENG 76/6 (Bairstow 34* Willey 21*)           

Chris Morris gets a bowl, and he probably thinks "not before time..."

He's soon treated to two very nice shots though, Willey square drives the ball for four. And now YJB with the stroke of the day, waiting on a wide ball and playing an attractive back cut that skips away for a boundary. Willey also with a two and a one in England's best over thus far.

12:22PM

OVER 16: ENG 65/6 (Bairstow 30* Willey 14*)          

Bairstow, perhaps with an eye on Jason Roy's place????, is going nicely here. The only one to have played the match situation so far. Rocks back now and uppercuts Morne over the slips for four.

Willey, by the same token, has a personal claim to advance. He's made his highest score in ODIs already...

12:20PM

OVER 15: ENG 59/6 (Bairstow 25* Willey 13*)         

Trio of singles off Maharaj .

12:14PM

OVER 14: ENG 56/6 (Bairstow 23* Willey 12*)        

Morkel, with that shorter length and also with the sun peeking out, is not causing quite the same problems as the opening bowlers. On the other hand, England are not trying to crash every ball through the covers since the six wickets fell. Quiet stuff at the moment, until Morkel drops one too short and too wide, and Bairstow picks his spot nicely to help himself.

England can have a drink and attempt to regroup.

12:08PM

OVER 13: ENG 51/6 (Bairstow 18* Willey 12*)       

Four singles off the spinner. Is this a record early sighting of the quiet middle overs? Given that England will be lucky to be batting for 25 overs, I guess we are about right.

12:05PM

OVER 12: ENG 47/6 (Bairstow 16* Willey 10*)      

An After The Gold Rush feel to proceedings at the moment, Morkel bowling sensibly, Bairstow batting sensibly.

12:04PM

OVER 11: ENG 45/6 (Bairstow 15* Willey 9*)     

Strange decision from AB. If you take decision-making in sport as being "what would my opponent least like me to do?" then I don't think the answer would be "bring on the spinner." Some respite for England in these ideal swing-bowling conditions as de Villiers throws the ball to his spinner Keshav Maharaj. Bairstow celebrates by clumping the first ball for the covers for a boundary.

11:57AM

OVER 10: ENG 40/6 (Bairstow 10* Willey 9*)    

Morne Morkel manages to wrestle the ball from Kagiso, and a trademark lifter from big Morne gives Willey something to think about, as well as a smarting blow on the thigh pad.

England will be glad to see the back of that 'powerplay'.

0-5 overs: 20/6

5-10 overs: 23/0

At the current rate of improvement, England are going to sweep to glorious victory.

11:55AM

OVER 9: ENG 38/6 (Bairstow 9* Willey 8*)   

Couple of nice shots from Bairstow as he guides Rabada for a couple to third man, and then clatters it through the covers for four. 

Biggest problem now for AB is probably persuading Rabada and Parnell to give someone else a bowl.

11:53AM

OVER 8: ENG 32/6 (Bairstow 3* Willey 8*)  

Willey clips Parnell for four through leg, a better shot. Back into his swinging-like-a-rusty-gate mode soon after though, and fortunate not to make contact.

11:43AM

OVER 7: ENG 28/6 (Bairstow 3* Willey 4*) 

Kagiso Rabada with a solid delivery, and a solid response from Bairstow. A fine over, bouncer, length stuff. Bairstow takes no undue risks and England have managed to survive another over, a maiden.

Rabada has 4/12; Parnell 2/20.

South Africa were bowled out for 107 in 2003; that's the lowest ODI score at this ground.

11:41AM

Hat-trick ball coming up...

... Bairstow to face it...

11:40AM

OVER 6: ENG 28/6 (Bairstow 3* Willey 4*)

Parnell. Baristow. A forward defensive shot. The crowd roar with ironic approval. England manage to get through and entire over without losing a wicket, although in fairness David Willey does his level best to keep the collapse going as he slashes wildly at this last delivery of Parnell's over. The ball skews through gully.

11:35AM

OVER 5: ENG 20/6 (Bairstow 0*)    

Three wickets in the Rabada over, off the first, fifth and sixth deliveries. Kagiso will begin his next over on a hat-trick.

YJB has been standing at the other end, looking bemused. This is not the England ODI team we have come to expect.

England's lowest ODI total, of 86, looks to be up for scrumps. Steve Finn was on the boundary a few seconds ago signing autographs but has now had to hustle back to the rooms to get his pads on. A vintage, glorious fiasco from the England top order.

11:33AM

WICKET! Rashid c du Plessis b Rabada 0 

Farewell Adil Rashid, we hardly knew ye. A first baller for Adil Rashid, another ball outside off-stump, another big flashing shot, and another excellent catch in the slip cordon by South Africa. FOW 20/6

11:28AM

WICKET! Buttler c du Plessis b Rabada 4

And Jos has not lasted the over! Kagiso put the ball out there, Jos threw the kitchen sink at the ball and it's yet another smart catch in the cordon by South Africa. FOW 20/5

11:25AM

WICKET! Hales c Amla b Rabada 1

Another one! First ball of this new over, it's another perfect ball, it's full, it just does enough. Hales, his familiar failing, driving loosely at the ball outside off, an edge, a very good low grab from Hashim Amla and the Bok are rampant! England staring at a humiliating defeat here, and we've only had 25 balls of the match. FOW 15/4

Jos Buttler comes to the crease with the flustered appearance of a man who had been enjoying a nice sit-down with the Daily Star crossword before he was rudely prodded into life.​​

11:23AM

OVER 4: ENG 15/3 (Hales 1*)   

Earlier in the over, Morgan had given Parnell the charge and slapped him for four. But that has gone the way of all flesh now. The wicket came off the last ball of the over.

11:22AM

WICKET! Morgan c de Kock b Parnell 8

England are in a right old two-and-eight!  South Africa using the conditions excellently, AB basically treating this like the first morning of a Test match. He's got three slips and a gully, he has got his bowlers working beautifully, and Parnell is delivering for the skipper. Perfect ball, just tickles down the slope, and Morgan tickles it behind. FOW 15/3

11:17AM

OVER 3: ENG 11/2 (Hales 1* Morgan 4*)  

Rabada with a very dangerous, very quick yorker. It shaves Eoin's stumps. This is a quality over. Morgan, staying leg side, is giving Kagiso something to aim at. Morgs gets a couple through the covers.

Since the 2015 World Cup, England have the lowest opening partnership average of the eight teams in the Champions Trophy, with 37. South Africa have the highest average score for the first wicket, at 52. Given that both Roy and Hales have played huge individual knocks in that time, it tells you that it's rare for both of them to fire at once.

11:14AM

OVER 2: ENG 8/2 (Hales 1* Morgan 1*) 

ABdV goes on the attack and packs his slip cordon. Morgs off the mark first ball with an inside-edged single.

11:10AM

WICKET! Root lbw Parnell 2

That's an absolute peach from Wayne P! He's looking to go full at Joe, and he has managed to get one to swing back in. Wayne not noted for his inswinger, more of a guy who takes the ball away from the RH batsman, but there's no doubt about this one. That is a lovely inswinger, Joe Root is stone dead LBW and England are in trouble at FOW 7/2

You cannot get more out than that, can you? 

11:07AM

OVER 1: ENG 4/1 (Hales 0* Root 0*)

One legside ball, five excellent deliveries in the corridor of you-know-what, and the out-of-form Roy prodded one to slip.

Root comes in and has an uncomfortable time first ball, kept a bit low.

11:04AM

WICKET! Jason Roy c Amla b Rabada 4

Three good cherries to start with, from the Nursery End. There's a little bit of nibble, the pitch has some green on it. Now Kagiso strays onto the pads, Jason flips it away off the pads for a crisp, encouraging four. But that's as good as it's going to get for Mr Roy - next ball is right back in the danger area, Jason pushes at the ball uncertainly, edges, and Hashim makes no mistake with a low catch that went gently to him at about shin height. As simple a first slip catch as you could ask for and that's FOW 4/1.

11:01AM

Jason Roy and Alex Hales come to the crease

Kagiso Rabada to bowl. Jason Roy on strike, he needs a few runs. Two failures in this series so far, and he didn't do anything against Ireland either. Nor for Surrey.

He looks like the one cog in the England machine who is not quite working at the moment.

10:58AM

AB and his boys

Morkel, Parnell, Duminy are into the side. Three changes for them. Three very experienced men to come into the XI.

10:53AM

Polly

"Good length has gone out of the game - keep that for Test matches! This is about short and full. And if you have high pace then it takes the paddle out of the equation."

Bumble: "We use to say someone has only got two lengths - short or full. But now that is Box Office."

10:52AM

Mark Wood meets Athers

MA: "Do you enjoy the pressure of the death bowling?"

MW: "I did in the last match! It is great to be in the limelight and be the match winner for England."

"Whack it into the pitch, give them no room. We want the batsman to change their plan. You want THEM to be asking 'what are they thinking?' There is so much adrenaline. You are looking at little cues, their feet, how they pick their bat up. Otis Gibson is very good at that. If they are waving their bat, their beans are up, they are probably going to go for it. Brendon McCullum, you could tell when he was going to charge because his feet would twitch.

"It looks like I have got the [death bowling] job for a while! Pressure is all on me."

10:46AM

Good day for the Middlesex

(My County) as both Steve Finn and ToRoJo get a chance.

(Although the more self-interested part of me hopes they will be fit for this week's Champo match).

10:45AM

South Africa team

1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Morne Morkel

10:45AM

England team

1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Adil Rashid, 8 David Willey, 9 Toby Roland-Jones, 10 Jake Ball, 11 Steven Finn

10:38AM

Good morning sports fans

Tyers here. We have ODI cricket for you, or at least, I hope we do. The weather is not looking too clever here. I'd be surprised if we get through the day without interruption but, for the time being at least, we are set for an 11am start, the teams have been named, South Africa have won the toss and they will bowl.

10:38AM

Our preview

What is it?

It's the third one-day international between England and South Africa at Lord's - the last match the Three Lions will play ahead of the Champions Trophy.

When is it?

Monday May 29 - ie today.

What time does it start?

It's an 11am British Summer Time start this morning.

What TV channel is it on?

It's on Sky Sports 2, with coverage starting at 10.30am.

What is the team news?

 England have rested all-rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, and paceman Chris Woakes for the third and final one-day international against South Africa on Monday as the trio aim to overcome injury concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Batsmen Liam Dawson and Toby Roland-Jones, and bowler Steven Finn have been called up to replace the rested players for the last match of a series England hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in following Saturday's two-run win.

All three are expected to be fit for Thursday's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at The Oval but Stokes' niggling knee problem is the biggest concern due to his value to the team.

"We're constantly monitoring him and trying to manage him as best as we can," England captain Eoin Morgan told British media ahead of the final match against South Africa at Lord's.

"We're trying to build it up again with the Champions Trophy in mind. It's a very strange injury, he aggravates it when he bowls, in his delivery stride. He's good to play as a batsman if need be but obviously we want Ben Stokes the all-rounder."

Ali and Stokes put in respective Man of the Match performances in the first two matches against South Africa, while Woakes missed the second of them due to injury.

The June 1-18 Champions Trophy is being held in England and Wales and contested by the top eight sides in the one-day international rankings. 

What are they saying?

Ben Stokes on his injury:

"It is just in my delivery stride bowling," he said. "Batting and running around the field and everything like that is fine.

"We are managing it as well as we can with the physios, doctors and myself.

"On some days I don't know whether it is going to be good or not. We only really find out how it is when I start bowling."

What are the odds?

England - 11/10

South Africa - 13/15

What's our prediction?

An England clean sweep - if the rain holds off.