England’s one-day struggles under Jos Buttler continue as South Africa take series

• South Africa vs England second ODI: full scoreboard

By Will Macpherson in Bloemfontein

Later this year, England will defend the first of their twin World Cups. But right now, they are running out of time to string together results that will see them arrive in India carrying the air of favourites.

This defeat, by five wickets, was England’s fifth in a row. They have won none of their past four one-day international series, and just two of their past 12 matches. On the evidence of these two matches, South Africa, who still have not qualified (two more wins will do that), will be just as threatening at the World Cup, which starts in October.

This win, in which they knocked off England’s 342 with five balls to spare, was different from Friday’s heist, and featured a wonderful century and lively celebration, to the delight of much of the 12,000-strong crowd, from Temba Bavuma, their captain. Left out of the shiny new SA20 competition, Bavuma said he had issued “a reminder to myself that I deserve to be in this team”.

Since the retirements of Eoin Morgan then Ben Stokes last summer – and even back to the World Cup in 2019 – England have been an ODI side in transition. Hampered by a heavy schedule, ODIs have sat at the bottom of England’s priority list and they rarely have their best team. This was most true in the 3-0 whitewash in Australia after the T20 World Cup, which Jos Buttler described as a “write-off”.

It has left Buttler’s side short on experience of ODIs, but even 50-over cricket more generally, because top players no longer play it domestically, while it sits under the Hundred (Harry Brook, who made a sparkling 80, played his first 50-over match in almost four years on Friday).

A diet of T20 cricket is affecting the rhythm of even their most experienced players; Moeen Ali made his first fifty in ODIs since September 2017. Even Buttler, an England white-ball great, admits he is struggling for the format’s rhythm when he bats, including in his unbeaten 94 here. Thankfully, he does not think it is affecting his captaincy, but Morgan was always going to leave a hole. So too have Joe Root (on Test duty), Jonny Bairstow (injured) and Mark Wood (rested).

The blueprint for the 2023 World Cup is not the 2019 tournament, when four years of revolution carried them home, but last year’s T20 World Cup, when things came together late and were all right on the night. England have one more match here, three in Bangladesh in March, when they will be missing key players once more, then a strong bank of games in September, just before the big dance.

There should be no great cause for alarm yet, because of what Buttler calls “ingrained confidence a long period of time in white-ball cricket”. Buttler, to his credit, was determined not to blame the schedule, which was Stokes’s reason for retiring.

“We can’t really use that as an excuse, we’ve got to move with the times, the schedules are how they are. We just need to play a little bit better,” he said. “There are a few mitigating circumstances, but we’re not performing as well as we’d like and that’s down to me, the coach and the players to work that out and to try to raise our level.”

This was a better performance than on Friday. Bavuma won the toss again, and put England in. South Africa’s excellent seamers found swing and seam to pick up Jason Roy and Dawid Malan in the powerplay, necessitating a rebuild.

Brook led that with a swagger, making his maiden ODI half-century, then Buttler – who was starved of the strike – and Moeen picked up the baton. And for all that England had made a slow start, Buttler and Sam Curran supercharged the end of the innings, taking 60 from the final four overs.

Only once had England made more than 342 and lost, but conditions were far kinder when Bavuma came to bat at the top of South Africa’s order. Perhaps, though, that was down to the difference between Wayne Parnell and Lungi Ngidi, and Chris Woakes and Reece Topley, both playing in their first game of the series. An issue for England in these matches is that at least one member of their attack – Jofra Archer on Friday, Topley on Sunday – has been feeling his way back in after injury. Woakes has been ­carrying niggles, too, and was off colour.

The upshot was only rarely did South Africa’s chase look off course. It was the efforts of Olly Stone that kept England in the game. He picked up Quinton de Kock and, much later, Heinrich Klaasen to keep England’s hopes alive. Stone has bowled in the image of Liam Plunkett, who was so instrumental in 2019, but dropped in an unseemly hurry immediately afterwards. Stone touched 90 mph, and looked to bowl cross-seam, hammering the pitch from just back of a length.

Stone also had David Miller dropped by Moeen in his final over. Miller duly launched a six to complete the job for South Africa. It had, as Buttler observed, been a “brilliant game”.

Unfortunately for England, they are making a bad habit of coming out on the wrong side of those.

Second one-day international: As it happened

04:34 PM

It's been a chastening afternoon for England

Chris Woakes and Reece Topley were marmalised. England can take solace from the batting of Messrs Brook, Buttler and Ali and the bowling of Olly Stone but they were outplayed and outgunned here. They are going to get nowhere on flat pitches overseas without more penetration in the middle overs and wicket-taking ability from the opening bowlers.

But Temba Bavuma was magnificent. His ability and captaincy has been sniped at for months but he has answered his critics and is on course to pull off the great escape to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup. He was ably assisted by David Miller and a very calm and clever knock from Marco Jansen.

04:32 PM

South Africa win by five wickets

And win the series, taking a 2-0 lead with one match on Wednesday to go.

04:31 PM

OVER 49.1: SA 347/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 32) chasing 343

Miller finishes it with a six off Woakes with five balls to spare. Bullied over long off.

SA win by five wickets.

04:29 PM

OVER 48.6: SA 341/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 32) chasing 343

Jansen sits back in his crease and slaps it off the back foot through mid off for four.

04:29 PM

OVER 48.5: SA 337/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 30) chasing 343

Dot ball.

04:27 PM

OVER 48.4: SA 337/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 28) chasing 343

Two more for Jansen, digging out the yorker and squirting it square.

04:27 PM

OVER 48.3: SA 335/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 26) chasing 343

Jansen hangs deep and pulls close to Curran but too hard to for him to get there and they take two.

04:26 PM

OVER 48.2: SA 333/5 (Miller 52 Jansen 24) chasing 343

Miller enters the apocryphal spirit of Hirst and Rhodes with another single, driving it off the toe down the ground.

04:25 PM

OVER 48.1: SA 332/5 (Miller 51 Jansen 24) chasing 343

Hansen walks across to whisk the low full toss behind square for a single.

04:24 PM

OVER 48: SA 331/5 (Miller 51 Jansen 23) chasing 343

Jansen works Stone through midwicket for a single having walked across, back foot first. Miller belts a chance to short extra off a full toss. Moeen dives to his left but can't cling on. He smoked that but it was catchable. They take a single. Stone delivers a dot ball bouncer then makes a good diving stop in his followthrough to save another.

Jansen hoicks across the line and inside edges it past the stumps for three. Buttler had to go after it and ran like Billy-O. Miller misses out on a legside tickel but the ball is called wide and then Malan makes a fine diving stop to leave 12 required off 12.

Ball by ball? Why not.

04:18 PM

OVER 47: SA 325/5 (Miller 50 Jansen 19) chasing 343

Sam Curran comes back and restricts Jansen to a single off the first two balls, drilled down to long off. Curran treats Miller to a cutter which he didn't pick and swings at it but misses. Three balls left.

Curran is skirting the tram lines legally so far. Miller can only reach it to drive for a single to cover. Jansen hangs back to pull another single down to long on and Miller ends the over with a clip for two to the cover sweeper. That's his fifty.

SA need 18 off 18.

04:13 PM

OVER 46 SA 320/5 (Miller 47 Jansen 17) chasing 343

Stone does his best to slam on the brakes with help from a great stop by Rashid at midwicket to make it four dot balls on the trot. Jansen tees off at the fifth, misses and the ball whistles past the foot of off stump. Jansen drills a single down the ground to leave 23 required off 24.

04:09 PM

OVER 45 SA 319/5 (Miller 47 Jansen 16) chasing 343

Buttler calls Topley back for a third spell. Miller whisks a single to midwicket, Jansen square drives for another and Miller dinks a drive past cover for a third.

Jansen reads the slower ball and works it behind square leg for two then pumps the  full toss down the ground for a single. Topley gets the yorker/low full toss wrong spraying it above the waist and gives up a free hit ... which Miller murders for six over long on.

Somewhere in Dubai Bumble's key is in the ignition. England are done unless they can take a wicket in the next couple of deliveries.

SA need 24 off 28.

04:02 PM

OVER 44: SA 306/5 (Miller 39 Jansen 12) chasing 343

Misfield from Stone at long on turns one into two for Jansen. Rashid is exasperated. Jansen whisks a single, Miller chops one and then Jansen plants the big dog outside leg and slog sweeps a six to cow corner. It didn't turn. Only wickets can save England now. Two singles complete the over and Rashid's work with 10-0-72-2.

SA need 37 off 36.

03:59 PM

OVER 43: SA 294/5 (Miller 37 Jansen 2) chasing 343

Spin at both ends. Moeen comes back because, one assumes, Buttler doesn't want to risk Woakes and Topley. Miller slog sweeps for four then bunts two down to long on. Two singles ends the over leaving 49 required off 42.

03:56 PM

OVER 42: SA 284/5 (Miller 29 Jansen 1) chasing 343

Miller hares back for two after Markram skelps Rashid's first ball out of the blockhole for two, His first three balls are leg-break, leg-break and then the googly that does for Markram.

Enter the all-rounder Jansen. He is given a wrong 'un first up and he drills it for a single through mid-off. Miller cuts for a single. Moeen catches the final ball at slip after the leg-break hits the thighpad. No bat, though. Great over.

SA need 59 off 48.

03:51 PM

Wicket!!

Markram b Rashid 49 Hey Nostradamus! You've got nowt on me. Does him with a googly that snakes through the gate and knocks back middle stump. FOW 282/5

03:50 PM

OVER 41: SA 280/4 (Markram 47 Miller 28) chasing 343

Curran dries up the boundaries but is still taken for seven runs, two twos and three singles. South Africa are cruising this. England desperately need a wicket. Since 2015 Rashid has been their man for desperate situations.

SA need 63 off 52 balls.

03:46 PM

OVER 40: SA 273/4 (Markram 45 Miller 23) chasing 343

Topley comes back and is going at more than seven on his international comeback following the injury before the World T20. Sadly, for him, he hasn't hit his straps today and Markram blasts a cover drive off him for four, exchanges three singles and Miller then wedges a six over cover from the final ball. Woakes and Topley have been very vulnerable on this pitch in their first match of the series. Maybe time to gamble on Rashid?

03:39 PM

OVER 39: SA 260/4 (Markram 39 Miller 16) chasing 343

Sam Curran, who has four overs to go, comes back on. Miller walks across to whisk two through midwicket then chisels out the yorker for two, Roy's running dive saving the boundary. Miller pulls the short ball for a single to midwicket, hitting it too well to take any more from it, Brook and Topley fielding.

03:34 PM

OVER 38: SA 254/4 (Markram 38 Miller 11) chasing 343

South Africa have a longish tail and England will be confident that if they can remove one of these two they can squeeze the life out of the chase but must be worried at the number of boundaries they are leaking. Markram lofts a drive for four over mid on then bunts the low full toss for s single. Miller works one to square leg, Markram shovels one to midwicket and Miller makes it eight, above the rate, with a Harrow drive/French cut down to fine leg.

Sa need 89 off 12.

03:31 PM

OVER 37: SA 246/4 (Markram 32 Miller 9) chasing 343

Moeen dries it up with only singles coming off the first five balls until Miller, who used to be very vulnerable to spin, nails a sweep with impeccable timing for four. Shot!

SA need 97 off 13.

03:28 PM

OVER 36: SA 237/4 (Markram 29 Miller 3) chasing 343

Miller gets off the mark with a pat off his hip for a single. Markram rides the bounce to slice a single to cover point and Miller takes two with a flick through midwicket.

SA need 106 from 84 balls.

Stone has 7-0-33-2.

Off spin for the left-handed Miller. Moeen's coming back.

03:23 PM

Wicket!

Klaasen c Buttler b Stone 27  An absolute ripper of a catch from Buttler soaring high to his right to take a double-hander off an edge that flew towards first slip. FOW 233/4

03:21 PM

OVER 35: SA 233/3 (Markram 28 Klaasen 27) chasing 343

Topley starts with some enforcement, restricting them to three singles off five, but fails to anticipate Markram hanging deep and rocking back to hammer a back of a length ball over midwicket for six!

03:17 PM

OVER 34: SA 224/3 (Markram 21 Klaasen 25) chasing 343

That's enough Woakes for now. Buttler brings back Olly Stone who is taller and about 10 clicks quicker. Markram is hurried into cross bat wipes, taking a single off the first three but Klaasen goes down town, heaving it over wide mid on for four with such force and such little timing that he splinters his bat. Klaasen inside-edges the next ball into his pad – is that any way to treat a brand new bat? – then fiddles a single off his thighpad.

03:11 PM

OVER 33: SA 218/3 (Markram 20 Klaasen 20) chasing 343

Topley replaces Rashid and comes round the wicket to the right-handers. Klaasen uses the angle to whip four off middle and leg then withdraws the front leg to pan a back-foot drive on  the up through mid-off. Extraordinary shot. England's opening bowlers are leaking runs.

03:06 PM

OVER 32: SA 205/3 (Markram 17 Klaasen 10) chasing 343

Double world champion Chris Woakes has struggled today, and his short ball has been treated sadistically. Markram swivels into a pull to spank six over midwicket though Foakes made a good effort at catching it, sprinting to his right and leaping as high as his quadriceps could manage but it still cleared him. Three cutters are pulled for a couple of twos and a single. Not his day.

Time for drinks.

SA need 138 off 108 balls at 7.66 an over.

03:02 PM

OVER 31: SA 194/3 (Markram 9 Klaasen 7) chasing 343

Markram cuts Rashid for a single and takes two more through cover. Klaasen hangs on the back foot to clip two through point, a single off a misfield and a third off a scuffed pull.

03:00 PM

Will Macpherson reports

02:57 PM

OVER 30: SA 187/3 (Markram 6 Klaasen 3) chasing 343

Woakes took a lot of tap with his four-over new ball spell costing 34.  Buttler brings him back for the two new batsmen and Markram welcomes him with a creamy, dreamy straight drive for four. Markram strokes a single through mid-on, Klaasen hustles two from a drive and a Curran misfield then pierces cover with a back-foot punch.

02:53 PM

OVER 29: SA 178/3 (Markram 0 Klaasen 0) chasing 343

As Sir Geoffrey always said, 'Add two wickets to your score and then see how well you're doing.'. England go bang! Bang! And change the game.

02:50 PM

Wicket!!

Van der Dussen c Moeen b Rashid 38  Now Buttler celebrates in the departing batsman's face. Proper needle out there. He has been string on the reverse sweep this series but slaps this one straight to backward point. FOW 178/3

02:47 PM

Not out

The leg break turned too much and would have missed off stump.

02:46 PM

England review

Van der Dussen lbw b Rashid Pinned on the reverse sweep. No bat surely?

02:45 PM

OVER 28: SA 174/2 (Van der Dussen 34 Markram 0) chasing 343

Wicket maiden for Curran. Just what Dr Buttler ordered.

02:40 PM

Wicket!!

Bavuma b Curran 109 Curran celebrates in Bavuma's face, picking up his knees and yelling in joy while doing his Rumpelstiltskin jig. He walked across to scoop and flicked it on to his own stumps. Curran is an IPL multimillionaire and can afford the likely fine but it was a little unbecoming if wholly understandable. FOW 174/2

02:39 PM

OVER 27: SA 174/1 (Bavuma 109 Van der Dussen 34) chasing 343

Rashid regains a form of control, conceding just five. South Africa still have a mountain to climb, needing 169 off 138 balls.

02:38 PM

OVER 26: SA 169/1 (Bavuma 105 Van der Dussen 33) chasing 343

Curran howls in frustration when VDD jumps chest on to ramp, misses it with his flick but cue-ends it with the toe through mid-on. They run one and take another when Roy's throw hits the non-striker's with his shy and deflects through cover. The umpires check whether VDD had grounded his bat but he had ... just.

02:32 PM

OVER 25 SA 164/1 (Bavuma 103 Van der Dussen 30) chasing 343

Bavuma gets back up to harpoon a drive off Rashid through cover for four and brings up his hundred. A la Nasser he answers his numerous critics by pointing to the number on his back. He seems to be moving much more easily now, too. He needs to as they follow the four with five singles as the home fans give him the Seven Nation Army treatment: 'Oh Temba Bavuma! repeat at nauseam.

02:28 PM

OVER 24 SA 155/1 (Bavuma 96 Van der Dussen 28) chasing 343

Bavuma is lame. He can barely walk never mind run and Curran is bowling cannily to expose his discomfort, conceding only two but the dot balls when VDD is on strike are making Bavuma back-up, stop and turn which is punishing his stricken right leg.

On comes the physio for more lengthy treatment for South Africa's captain. Get on with the game.

02:24 PM

OVER 23 SA 153/1 (Bavuma 95 Van der Dussen 27) chasing 343

Bavuma gives us a stiff leg hop straight out of the Ministry for Silly Walks when he cramps up having chipped Rashid over mid-off for a one-bounce four. Van der Dussen isn't picking Rashid's googly but is doing enough to keep them out and prod them for singles. The physio comes on to give Bavuma something for the cramp. Used to be salt tablets.

02:18 PM

OVER 22 SA 145/1 (Bavuma 89 Van der Dussen 25) chasing 343

Curran replaces Stone and starts round the wicket to Bavuma. He slants it too far into the right-hander who uses the pace and angle to tickle it fine for four. Curran drags it back to keep them down to three singles off the next five and may have been one fewer had Roy hit the stumps at the non-striker's with a roundarm throw to effect a run-out.

02:13 PM

OVER 21 SA 138/1 (Bavuma 83 Van der Dussen 24) chasing 343

Rashid has come up with another ploy after being hit for 20 off his first two overs, taking the pace off, using flight, helpfully not serving up any long hops, and consequently constricts the Saffers to three singles.

02:11 PM

OVER 20 SA 135/1 (Bavuma 81 Van der Dussen 23) chasing 343

Bavuma flashes hard at a cut and cleaves Stone for four through point then Harrow drives for a single, the ball whistling past off-stump. Poor Stone. Could have had a couple of drag-on wickets.

02:08 PM

OVER 19 SA 129/1 (Bavuma 76 Van der Dussen 22) chasing 343

VDD misreads the googly, chops it on to his pad and it pops up. Buttler tries to barge through Van der Dussen to go for the catch and the batsman stands his ground, blocking him. Buttler says when VDD protests, 'I'm allowed to go for the catch. What's your problem?' There might have been an eff and/or jeff in there from one or both, too.

Bavuma thrashes Rashid's long hop for four through midwicket and then smacks another off the back foot through long on.

02:00 PM

OVER 18 SA 119/1 (Bavuma 67 Van der Dussen 21) chasing 343

Bavuma is mashed on the glove by Stone and runs a single while shaking his hand. Van der Dussen, who isn't a prolific six-hitter, climbs into an offside bumper and pulls it over square leg for only his third in nine innings against England.

Time for a drink and, for England, a think.

01:56 PM

OVER 17 SA 111/1 (Bavuma 65 Van der Dussen 14) chasing 343

Van der Dussen takes on Rashid, using his feet to take a couple of singles then unwraps his new model reverse sweep to cuff four square of third man. Bavuma had uses his feet to walk across his stumps and scoopt two over his shoulder, then drives a pair of singles.

01:51 PM

OVER 16 SA 100/1 (Bavuma 61 Van der Dussen 8) chasing 343

Another good over from Stone of pacey enforcement. Van der Dussen squeezes a two and a single through cover but Bavuma can barely lay bat on him outside off, diddled by the speed and bounce. At last, to end the over, instead of trying to strike it away, he opts to block and deflect, running it down to third man for two and take his side to three figures.

Time for Adil Rashid.

01:47 PM

OVER 15 SA 95/1 (Bavuma 59 Van der Dussen 5) chasing 343

VDD waits on Curran's slower ball, having read his tells, and lamps it through cover for four. He blocks the next one for a single to cover and Bavuma tucks into a slow bouncer by swatting it over midwicket for another. Costly over and a miscarriage of justice to end it when Bavuma doesn't read the pace on the final short ball and bottom edges it for four down to fine leg, a gnat's from off-stump when bypassing the poles.

01:43 PM

OVER 14 SA 82/1 (Bavuma 51 Van der Dussen 0) chasing 343

A very fine over from Stone, a maiden but bowled with serious heat and accuracy. Twice he frightens the pants off Bavuma with a couple of vicious lifters that rear off the pitch and force him to drop his hands and jerk back his head. The very definition of a snorter.

01:41 PM

OVER 13 SA 82/1 (Bavuma 51 Van der Dussen 0) chasing 343

Double change. Sam Curran replaces Moeen. He messed with the batsmen's timing on Friday with good use of the short ball with pace on and pace off. Bavuma, though, is ready for the test, rocks back and spins like a gyroscope to pull him for four. That's the captain's third ODI fifty.

01:35 PM

OVER 12 SA 77/1 (Bavuma 46 Van der Dussen 0) chasing 343

Stone has the height and pace that makes hitting him straight tricky. After two dot balls Bavuma glides two down to third man then opens his right wrist to square drive a single. De Kock is clonked in the box and holes out next ball. Top clonking.

01:32 PM

Wicket!

De Kock c Duckett b Stone 31  Hit him square in the goolies the previous ball trying a legside pick-up and he goes for it again, perhaps with teats in his eyes, popping it up to deep square leg where Duckett completes a running, diving catch, grazing his hands on the grass to get his hands under the ball. FOW 77/1

01:30 PM

OVER 11: SA 74/0 (De Kock 31 Bavuma 43) chasing 343

De Kock takes on three reverse sweeps. He misses the first on an off-stump line but clouts the next two from middle and middle and leg over backward point for a pair of fours.

Olly Stone will have the first post PowerPlay 1 shift.

01:27 PM

OVER 10: SA 64/0 (De Kock 22 Bavuma 42) chasing 343

Topley keeps the brakes on to drag South Africa beneath the required rate, conceding only three singles, all behind square, one to third mam, two to fine leg.

01:21 PM

OVER 9: SA 61/0 (De Kock 20 Bavuma 41) chasing 343

Bavuma thumps two through cover from deep in his crease then works a single off his toes. De Kock pushes forward to poke a single to cover. Good start from the offie.

01:20 PM

OVER 8: SA 57/0 (De Kock 19 Bavuma 38) chasing 343

Topley takes back control with three dot balls and giving up merely three singles off the other three. Buttler has seen enough from Woakes after 4-0-34-0 and chucks the ball to Moeen.

01:16 PM

Will Macpherson reports

01:14 PM

OVER 7: SA 54/0 (De Kock 18 Bavuma 36) chasing 343

De Kock only needs the bottom hand when Woakes drops short and he heaves it low, hard and flat over midwicket for four. Woakes hangs another outside off and De Kock brings up SA's fifty with a front-foot square drive for four more. Woakes tests him on the short ball again, De Kock has an almighty swipe at it and edges it down to third man for four more. Try spin? Make him use his bruised top hand.

01:11 PM

OVER 6: SA 39/0 (De Kock 4 Bavuma 35) chasing 343

South Africa are motoring along nicely. Well, Bavuma is as De Kock is evidently in pain. De Kock steers a single down to third, Bavuma clatters four off Topley through midwicket and carves a single to point.

01:05 PM

OVER 5: SA 33/0 (De Kock 3 Bavuma 30) chasing 343

While England hitherto have not managed the right consistent length, Woakes, after three exemplary full balls,  now loses his line, sticks one on Bavuma's pads and the South Africa captain whisks it for four.

Bavuma yelps 'Oooh ja!' when surprised by a slower bouncer that grows on him.

01:00 PM

OVER 4: SA 29/0 (De Kock 3 Bavuma 26) chasing 343

Bavuma is in fair old nick. Buttler encourages Topley to aim for the lbws but Bavuma responds with magnificent timing to lift a good length delivery off middle and leg over midwicket for six. The next delivery is full too, a half-volley, and Bavuma threads it through cover for four.

12:57 PM

OVER 3: SA 18/0 (De Kock 3 Bavuma 15) chasing 343

First boundary of the innings goes to Bavuma with a pull off a waistband high short ball over off stump. Woakes pitches the following ball up and Bavuma laces it through mid-on and Stone's dive for four. The short-ball-half-volley overcorrection. After Bavuma chops a single down to third man, De Kock is struck on the glove when walking across to the offside to flap two over his shoulder.

12:53 PM

OVER 2: SA 7/0 (De Kock 1 Bavuma 6) chasing 343

Good start from Topley who must be the unluckiest cricketer England have had. He would have had a shout of winners' medals in both World Cups save for the curse of injuries. Very tight lines for three balls until Bavuma uses the swing to flick two through midwicket. Spying Rashid a little deep at mid-off, he burgles a single there with a back-foot defensive, hurling himself headlong to make his ground.

12:49 PM

OVER 1: SA 4/0 (De Kock 1 Bavuma 3) chasing 343

Chris Woakes starts with three dot balls to De Kock, good length before he gets off the mark with a tip and run to cover. Bavuma is struck on the pad, walking across his crease but it was always heading down. Bavuma gets away with a clip off his toes in front of square for three.

Reece Topley will take the other new ball.

12:44 PM

The players are back out

And Quinton de Kock is taking guard.

12:21 PM

Will Macpherson reports from Bloemfontein

And breaking ... or rather not

12:19 PM

Change of innings

The break may well be truncated because of all the delays during England's innings but we will be back as soon as they resume. South Africa need 343 to win. (The record chase at Bloem to date is 274.)

12:17 PM

England 342/7

After a brilliant start by South Africa's new ball bowlers, excellent innings from Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali plus a Sam Curran blitz at the end have led England towards a mammoth total on this big field. Quinton de Kock must be a serious doubt to bat but they will have 50 overs to get them as there will be no over penalty for taking four hours and 15 minutes to complete the innings because of the breaks for injury.

12:14 PM

OVER 50: ENG 342/7 (Buttler 94 Rashid 0)

Adil Rashid is welcomed to the crease with a preposterously short bouncer that trampolines over the batsman and the keeper for five wides. The next ball is also a bouncer. Rashid goes for the uppercut, misses but Buttler is halfway down and completes the bye before Klaasen could do anything about it.

Two balls left. Buttler squirst the first for four behind square – he was looking for midwivcket but bisects fine leg and deep backward square. And he ends the innings with a hard run three for a skittish drive over cover that plus 2m in from the fence.

12:09 PM

Wicket!!

Curran c Klaasen b Nortje 28  Stepped back to leg and had to lean to fetch it, edging it low to the substitute keeper who took a very good one-handed catch. FOW 329/7

12:09 PM

OVER 49: ENG 328/6 (Buttler 87 Curran 28)

Bavuma sticks with Ngidi but this time, at least, he bowls at full pace. Sadly for him it's in the slot and Curran carts him over long on for six. Curran taps a single down to long on. Buttler wallops the next ball over Ngidi's head for four, walking across to fetch it and holding the pose like a golfer to watch its flight. England take a leg-bye off Buttler's left biceps when he tries to pull. Curran ends the over absolutely crashing a pull for four. Maharaj ran back and dived but couldn't reach it before it dropped a couple of centimetres inside the rope.

12:03 PM

OVER 48: ENG 312/6 (Buttler 83 Curran 17)

Buttler pulls Jansen for two, then scuffs a drive for two more down to long off. Jansen follows it with a pair of shorter balls, one at full ratpower, the second at half pace. Buttler swings and misses at both. Only two more singles dent his figures, leaving the tall left-arm quick with 10-0-66-1

12:00 PM

OVER 47: ENG 305/6 (Buttler 78 Curran 16)

Buttler puts the pedal down and flays a slower ball outside off stump through point for four as if hitting an ice hockey puck. The next ball is slow again from Ngidi and Buttler belts it out of the ground for a steepling six over midwicket. A further delay ensues because they can't find the ball in the trees.

Ngidi succumbs to the dreaded Dernbach disease following slower ball with slower ball so that, after Buttler drills a single down the ground, Curran lines him up to smite successive sixes, the first over long on while dodging about the crease, the second back over the bowler's head.

11:53 AM

OVER 46: ENG 282/6 (Buttler 67 Curran 4)

Curran is struggling with Jansen's slower balls which mess up his timing. He scratches around for three dot balls before jamming out the yorker for a single.

Buttler is treated to a high bouncer that is called wide, plays and misses when trying to ramp, then finally purloins the strike with an inside-edge into his front pad.

11:49 AM

OVER 45: ENG 279/6 (Buttler 66 Curran 3)

The injury to De Kock and the blow on Parnell's toe as well as the 30C heat have pushed South Africa perilously close to a penalty for a slow over-rate. They've been playing for 225 minutes already and still have 30 balls to go at the end of this over.

With De Kock at best badly bruised, England may well already have enough but they have got a little stuck since Moeen dragged on. Three singles come off Parnell's last over, leaving him with figures of 10-1-54-1.

11:44 AM

OVER 44: ENG 276/6 (Buttler 65 Curran 1)

Having farmed the strike by bunting a full toss for a single, Woakes flashes a cut that flies down to third man. Hendricks, the sub, dives over it, much to Jansen's displeasure. After Woakes takes another two down to third man, this one properly gathered by Hendricks, Jansen tempts him one that rears up a bit higher and takes the edge as he retreated to leg. Curran gets off the mark with a tip and run single to mid-on. Buttler has been starved of strike.

11:42 AM

Wicket!

Woakes c Klaasen b Jansen 14 Stepped away and tried to slash it down to third man but snicked it through to the locum keeper. FOW 275/6

11:39 AM

OVER 43: ENG 269/5 (Buttler 65 Woakes 8)

Woakes flicks two through midwicket for two off Parnell and then plays a very good leg glance fine for four.

11:34 AM

OVER 42: ENG 262/5 (Buttler 65 Woakes 1)

Chris Woakes comes in ahead of Sam Curran and is greeted with a bouncer which he sensibly ducks. Here comes another at 92.5mph to end the over and Woakes jack-knifes out of the road. Apologies. It wasn't the last ball. Woakes flicks a single off his pads to get off the mark.

11:30 AM

Wicket!

Moeen b Nortje 51  Drags on the slower ball when essaying a big drive, chipping it off the inside edge into middle and leg.  FOW 261/5

11:27 AM

OVER 41: ENG 261/4 (Buttler 65 Moeen 51)

Now Buttler tees off, flaying Parnell over extra-cover for four then mows the net ball to cow corner for six to bring up the century partnership. Parnell rashly sticks out a boot to stop Buttler's murderous straight drive and was it on the left big toe. He crumples in pain when he goes back to his mark, England having run two off the toe. Off come the socks and on comes the physio. The toe looks relatively straight and the spray is applied.

Parnell resumes gingerly with a wide and Moeen milks a single with a legside tuck.

Will Macpherson writes

11:21 AM

OVER 40: ENG 248/4 (Buttler 54 Moeen 50)

Moeen climbs into Nortje, pulling him hard for four, creaming a drive for another then brings up his first ODI fifty for almost six years by heaving a length ball through midwicket for another. A prial of fours and a two.

11:17 AM

OVER 39: ENG 234/4 (Buttler 54 Moeen 36)

Buttler is too early on the pull from a Jansen short ball that keeps low. It kisses the thighpad and they take a leg-bye. Klaasen took his glove off to collect the throw and deflected it on to the discarded glove which costs South Africa penalty runs. Heinrich may have wished he hadn't volunteered to take Quinton's gloves. Moeen creams the next ball down the ground for four and Jansen takes his revenge with a nasty short ball that crashes into his ribs. Yikes. That winded him.  Jansen tries to follow Moeen's retreat to leg, overcooks it and concedes five wides and then one more with the next delivery. Moeen ends the long over with a flick over square leg for a single.

Sky's scoreboard has disappeared as they, I think, try to work out the run penalty for the ball hitting the glove. I think it was four but I can't be certain.

11:07 AM

OVER 38: ENG 217/4 (Buttler 54 Moeen 31)

Ngidi treats Moeen to an off-cutter and he picks it, hangs on the back foot and scythes it for four. Opening the face to take a single to third man, Moeen gives the strike to Buttler who does the same. They have put on 62 off 64 balls so far.

11:05 AM

OVER 37: ENG 211/4 (Buttler 53 Moeen 26)

England have dug very good foundations here after a tricky start. The highest winning chase here is 274. After working two singles each, Moeen thumps four off the back foot through cover. Glorious shot. Pure Mo.

10:58 AM

OVER 36: ENG 203/4 (Buttler 51 Moeen 19)

A legside wide from Ngidi brings up England's 200 as the bowler brings out his assortment of cutters and artfully disguised slower balls. What makes him so special is the dip and he uses it to surprise Buttler and pinning him above the shin as he tried to flick it through square leg and completed the stroke too early. Nigidi appeals but it was heading down. They jog a leg bye.

10:54 AM

OVER 35: ENG 197/4 (Buttler 50 Moeen 17)

Maharaj floats one above Buttler's eyeline but he waits for it to drop patiently and then expertly nails it for four with a clumping reverse sweep. The orthodox sweep earns him an inexpert single off the glove and gives Moeen a go at the slow left armer. After patting and flicking for his 19-ball 10, Moeen launches into a typically Moeen slog sweep, hammering it over midwicket for six. Hanging back again, he hoicks the next ball for a single and then Buttler brings up his 50 off the 49th ball of his innings with a whisk for two off his toes.

10:50 AM

OVER 34: ENG 184/4 (Buttler 44 Moeen 10)

Buttler works a single off his toes, Moeen reaches outside off to pat a single through cover and Buttler pushes the off-cutter through point for another. Good comeback over for Ngidi.

10:45 AM

OVER 33: ENG 181/4 (Buttler 42 Moeen 9)

Four singles off Maharaj's seventh over which ends with the left-arm spinner leaping to his left to try to pull off a caught and bowled to dismiss Buttler but the ball bursts through his hands. Big sigh of relief from all England supporters there.

Bavuma calls Ngidi back. He was magnificent with the new ball.

10:42 AM

OVER 32: ENG 177/4 (Buttler 40 Moeen 7)

Buttler has propped and nurdled enough. Markram is trying to tempt him by tossing it up high, just as he lured Brook to his doom. But Buttler gets to the pitch and smashes it between the cover sweeper and long off for six. The next ball is tossed wider still and Buttler lamps it through the covers for four.

10:40 AM

OVER 31: ENG 164/4 (Buttler 29 Moeen 5)

Bavuma leaps to try to catch a Buttler back-foot punch but can't quite get there. Great fielder but he is a titch, after all. They run a single. Moeen takes a pair of them either side of that, turning the left-arm spinner with the turn through midwicket.

Shaun pollock explains that the no-ball in the previous over was given for the keeper's hands being in front of the stumps before it reached the batsman rather than for knocking off the bails.

10:34 AM

Will Macpherson's verdict

10:34 AM

OVER 30: ENG 161/4 (Buttler 28 Moeen 3)

England are given a free hit for a no ball awarded when Klaasen knocked over the stumps before the ball reached the batsman. Is that in the laws? Who knew? Mark Nicholas certainly didn't. But Buttler can't dig out Markram's very full off break and it goes unpunished.

With just two singles off the over to go with the extra (or sundry if you're of an Antipodean persuasion) on come the second set of drinks.

10:29 AM

OVER 29: ENG 158/4 (Buttler 27 Moeen 2)

Bavuma cannily brings Maharaj back on the fall of Brook's wicket. Moeen needs a score and starts with another wristy flick for a single after blocking the first three.

10:26 AM

OVER 28: ENG 156/4 (Buttler 26 Moeen 1)

Golden arm Markram breaks the partnership at 73. Moeen flicks a single into the onside to get off the mark.

10:22 AM

Wicket!

Brook c Van der Dussen b Markram 80 Skipped down once again to try to hit over cover but Markram had tossed it a bit wider and in reaching to fetch it he lost his grip, opening the face and slicing it to the cover sweeper. FOW 155/4

10:21 AM

OVER 27: ENG 154/3 (Brook 80 Buttler 25)

Another piece of mercurial fielding from the excellent Bavuma at cover. He had one stump to aim at and he missed but his pick-up and throw were so quick that he would have run Brook out by a metre.

That single apart and a leg-bye, Parnell slams the brakes on with a fuller length and some wobble outside off stump.

10:18 AM

OVER 26: ENG 152/3 (Brook 79 Buttler 25)

Brook quicksteps down the pitch to drive Markram for four through cover and milks the spinner for a couple of singles, as does Buttler.

10:17 AM

NOT OUT

It hit the glove. SA have lost their second review. Terrible referral. Perhaps De Kock's absence cost them that one. He's usually pretty judicious.

10:15 AM

SA review

Buttler lbw b Markram Pinned on the reverse sweep but looked like he hit it.

10:14 AM

OVER 25: ENG 144/3 (Brook 73 Buttler 23)

Parnell replaces Maharaj, using a combination of slower balls and shape from left-arm over to mess with the right-handers' timing. Brook is nearly sawn off when he dabs to short third man and Buttler sends him back. Not so nimble in reverse, he dives to make his ground but not before the ball just goes past the stumps. He would have been half a metre short.

After four dot balls, Brook has had enough of circumspection and slogs a perfectly respectable length ball over midwicket for six, a pure T20 shot that no one would have had in their armoury 20 years ago, and follows that with an off-drive to rival the best of Sachin.

10:10 AM

OVER 24: ENG 134/3 (Brook 63 Buttler 23)

Three singles off Nortje's lightning-quick over. The balls may have gone soft, the shine gone and any moisture has been baked out of the pitch but Nortje remains fearsomely fast and Brook wisely decides to duck a vicious bouncer this time.

10:05 AM

OVER 23: ENG 131/3 (Brook 61 Buttler 22)

Brook devours Mahraj's minuscule error on length to pull his former Yorkshire team-mate for another six over midwicket. Brook has a dancer's footwork. He's so nimble. Brook eases a single past the spinner then uses his feet to hrapoon another down to long off.

10:01 AM

OVER 22: ENG 121/3 (Brook 53 Buttler 20)

Brook takes on Nortje's bouncer but isn't quick enough to hook it out of the ground as he intended. the ball takes the tope edge but lands safe. He's a very accomplished player with all the shots but Nortje is seriously quick, the fastest in the world and is making that known to Brook, finishing up by whistling one past his gloves as it veered back in to the right-hander.

09:56 AM

OVER 21: ENG 117/3 (Brook 51 Buttler 18)

Maharaj drags one down and Brook is in like Flynn to rock back and pull it high to cow corner for six. A pair of singles flicked through square leg brings up his fifty off 46 balls. Buttler chips in with two singles, one each side of the wicket.

09:54 AM

OVER 20: ENG 106/3 (Brook 42 Buttler 16)

Buttler, at the risk of jinxing, looks in wonderful nick, climbing into Nortje's back-of-a-length delivery to crack it off the back foot with a vertical bat in front of point for four. He flashes a cut for a single and Brook brings up England's hundred with a whisk off the pads for two and follows that with a back-foot drive on the up for two more. Buttler ends the over with a deliberate edge through the vacant slips, angling the bat. Parnell, who has been in the doghouse since not committing to the effort to try to catch Brook, makes a magnificent diving stop at third man, saving two.

09:49 AM

OVER 19: ENG 94/3 (Brook 37 Buttler 9)

Brook walks down to tap a single down the ground, Buttler plays successive reverse sweeps, the first going straight to the fielder, the second collared and sent finer of point for four.

09:47 AM

OVER 18: ENG 88/3 (Brook 36 Buttler 4)

Buttler flicks Jansen for two off his hips then opens the face to guide a single down to the point sweeper. Jansen, having made Brook jump with a bouncer earlier, goes for another but bangs it in way too short and it sails over the right-hander for a wide.

09:44 AM

OVER 17: ENG 83/3 (Brook 35 Buttler 1)

Maharaj breaks the partnership at 49 in the first over of spin. Duckett, a gun bat square of the wicket and behind, goes for the big hoick and it costs him and England dear. Enter Jos Buttler, who gets off the mark first ball with a pat through cover.

09:38 AM

Wicket!

Duckett c sub (Malan) b Maharaj 20  Blimey! If KP calls it reckless, which he just has, it must be a rotten shot. And indeed it was, at best, dozy. Having survived something of an ordeal from Nortje, he skips down to the slow left-armer's third ball and drags across the line as he didn't quite get to the pitch, loses his grip and cloths it down long-on's throat. FOW 82/3

09:36 AM

OVER 16: ENG 81/2 (Duckett 20 Brook 34)

Very poor fielding from Parnell at deep fine leg who is far too slow off the rope to try to catch Brook. The ball falls about two metres short of him but had he set off earlier he would have had a chance of reaching it on the dive. England walk a single and Jansen, the bowler, blows hard and pinches his nose. Duckett takes a single and a two into the onside Brook follws that pull with another single but this one off the front foot, eased to cover.

09:34 AM

Will Macpherson reports

Brook is leading a handy rebuild for England, for whom it's been tough going on a pitch with a bit in it.

09:27 AM

De Kock departs

Presumably for an X-ray. Heinrich Klaasen takes the gloves.

09:26 AM

OVER 15: ENG 75/2 (Duckett 16 Brook 32)

Nortje serves up a nasty knuckle duster at 91.5mph that crashes into Brook's top hand off a good length. Brook wrings his hand as he jogs a single. Duckett tucks one off his pads and then Nortje tries Brook on the bouncer having seen Jansen break his composure with one. But Brook is ready for it, helicopters round and carts it on the hook for six high over deep backward square. Nortje goes for another bumper next ball and Brook pulls that one for four.

The over ends with the doctor on the field for De Kock who is struck at the top of his wrist at the base of the thumb when Brook played an ugly heave-ho and bottom edged it through. In trying to stop the grubber De Kock threw out his hand and the ball struck him beneath the thick padding on the glove.

09:21 AM

OVER 14: ENG 63/2 (Duckett 15 Brook 21)

Brook plays an excellent ramp, opening the face of his Gray-Nicholls rather than uppercutting it over slip for four. After channelling Jos he then gives us his Joe (Root), opening the face to steer a good length ball down to third man for a single.

Jansen appeals when Brook has a flap at a legside bouncer that discomfited him as it arrowed towards his armpit but there was no glove before it was pouched by De Kock who did not support the appeal.

09:12 AM

OVER 13: ENG 56/2 (Duckett 14 Brook 15)

Duckett takes a very tight single to Bavuma at mid-off after cracking a drive to the fielder. he makes his ground with a headlong dive but is covered in dust from chin to toe as he scrambled to get there before Bavuma's shy.

Nortje pitches up to Brook who uses the length and his angle on the crease to bisect deep backward square and fine leg for four.

Time for drinks.

09:08 AM

OVER 12: ENG 50/2 (Duckett 13 Brook 10)

Brook Harrow drives for four, chipping Jansen's inswinger off the inside edge down to third man. Almost the dreaded drag-on. After batting streakily so far, Brook unfurls a handsome open-faced drive for four through point. Nasser! He's pinched your stroke. Jansen, such a clever bowler, responds with a cross-seamer that ramps and tails towards slip as Brook tried and failed to dab it down to third man.

09:03 AM

OVER 11: ENG 42/2 (Duckett 13 Brook 2)

Nortje, as usual, comes on at the end of PP1 and starts with a maiden to Duckett who is trying to rebuold via the breezy block.

08:59 AM

OVER 10: ENG 42/2 (Duckett 13 Brook 2)

Marco Jansen is the first change and starts with a peach to Duckett from left-arm over, swinging across on to off stump and tailing away as the left-hander pulled his bat back from the brink at the last moment. The next ball is shorter on the same line and Duckett muscles it through cover for three. The right-handed Brook is tested with four slanted across him, flirting with the edge. Brook blocks two and leaves the others.

08:55 AM

OVER 9: ENG 39/2 (Duckett 10 Brook 2)

Parnell continues for a fifth over. Duckett, playing watchfully but always on his toes, drills two through cover and then filches one off his bootstraps round the corner. Brook, who rarely played one in Pakistan, ends the over with a pair of full-faced defensives.

08:53 AM

Will Macpherson reports from Bloemfontein

08:52 AM

OVER 8: ENG 36/2 (Duckett 7 Brook 2)

Brook has a whoosh at an expansive drive and gets away with it, thick edging it down to third man for a single. Duckett, scanning the field like a meerkat, is kept quiet for three dot balls but fiddles the last of the over off his legs for a single behind square.

08:46 AM

OVER 7: ENG 34/2 (Duckett 6 Brook 1)

Duckett flicks four alarmingly close to the catching midwicket. These two are giving England a proper going over and now Parnell gets his reward by bagging Malan. Great toss to win and perfect execution by the opening bowlers.

Brook gets off the mark with a dab for as ingle down to third man.

08:40 AM

Wicket!

Malan lbw b Parnell 12  Kept low as he played back and nailed him on the knee roll. Normally playing back to one pitching back of a length would have given him the comfort of the ball vaulting the stumps but he had no such get-out today. FOW 33/2 

08:38 AM

OVER 6: ENG 28/1 (Malan 12 Duckett 1)

Malan had faced Ngidi's previous 12 balls and Roy was set up beautifully with two outswingers followed by one delivered wider on the crease that angled back into him. Terrific bowling.

Enter Ben Duckett, giving England two left-handers at the crease. Ngidi stays over the wicket and strikes Duckett on the pad. Big yelp of delight as well as an appeal but they don't follow it up as it pitched outside leg. The next ball jags across Duckett. An absolute jaffa. Nigidi is superb in South Africa and he ends the over with another brute that lifts and rags across Duckett, taking the shoulder of the bat and flies over second slip for a single.

08:32 AM

Wicket!

Roy b Ngidi 9  Ripper! Nips back through the gate as Roy drives and hits the top of off. FOW 27/1

08:30 AM

OVER 5: ENG 27/0 (Roy 9 Malan 12)

Excellent shape from Parnell but a bit too short to trouble the stumps. Roy was preparing to walk when given out but Malan shouted 'High! High! Refer! Refer!' After playing and missing at one slanted across him, Roy gets one on the pads and tucks it away for four. The next one bounces a bit higher and consequently comes off the inside edge for only two this time.

08:27 AM

NOT OUT

Yes, too high. It was clearing middle stump.

08:25 AM

England review

Roy lbw b Parnell  Nipped back a long way and hit him on the back thighpad. Height?

08:24 AM

OVER 4: ENG 19/0 (Roy 2 Malan 12)

The swing is preventing the openers from driving. Both of them love to plant the big dog down and drill it through the line. But Ngidi's inswing to the left-hander hasn't yet found a consistent line and he sprays another on to Malan's pads. The left-hander tries to tickle it fine, misses but takes four leg-byes off the pad instead.

Malan does attempt a drive, doesn't time it and the ball squirts off the inside edge. Ngidi floats on into the slot to end the over and Malan thumps him witheringly over midwicket for six!

08:20 AM

NOT OUT

The bat was nowhere near the ball. Marais Erasmus gets very little wrong. SA lose a review.

08:20 AM

SA review

Malan c De Kock b Ngidi  They think they've strangled him. Looked like pad to me.

08:17 AM

OVER 3: ENG 9/0 (Roy 2 Malan 6)

Swing, too, for Parnell in the corridor to the left-handed Malan but when he drops short Malan cuts into the ground and hares a single.

Roy gets off the mark off his eighth ball streakily with a leading edge. He was aiming to flick it through square leg but ended up with two over cover point. Both bowlers are hooping it.

08:13 AM

OVER 2: ENG 6/0 (Roy 0 Malan 5)

Ngidi comes round the wicket to Malan and pins him halfway up the right shin as the left-hander tries to tickle it round the corner. Big shout but it was angling down. Malan shuffles across to the next one again and plays a wristy flick for four fine. Ngidi is swinging it – to such an extent that after spraying a wide down legside he decides to come over the wicket.

Coming over the wicket allows Ngidi to bring his two slips into play and he keeps the ball in the channel. Malan leaves the firts alone but the next is fuller and he cuffs it through midwicket for a single.

08:09 AM

OVER 1: ENG 0/0 (Roy 0 Malan 0)

Roy defends a couple, misses out on a leg glance and then sends Malan back with some urgency when he fiddles one round the corner to short fine leg. Parnell, back in favour at the age of 33, bowls a nice tight line and some good fielding at point earns him a maiden. Roy looks a little jumpy.

Ngidi, master of the slower ball in the white-ball game, takes the other new pill.

08:06 AM

The players are out

Wayne Parnell has the new ball and the trumpeter purses his lips for Jerusalem. Did you used to be one of the herberts who shouted 'No!' at the end of every couplet in morning assembly?

'And did those feet in ancient times
Walk upon England's mountains green?' "No!"

07:45 AM

Will Macpherson reports

07:41 AM

Your teams

South Africa Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

England Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt & wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Olly Stone, Reece Topley.

07:38 AM

Sky thinks SA have made one more change

Jansen in for Magala. That's what the teamsheet says anyway, even if Temba Bavuma didn't confirm it. Jos Buttler says he's very happy to bat first. The pitch has the look of one that has been ready for a long time and should be a belter like Friday's.

07:36 AM

Team changes

For South Africa Rabada and Shamsi sit it out for South Africa and Ngidi and Maharaj take their places.

England rest Archer and Willey; Woakes and Topley come in.

07:34 AM

South Africa have won the toss

And put England in to bat. Bavuma thinks the pitch is on the sticky side and his seamers can exploit that this morning.

07:19 AM

Will Macpherson reports from Bloemfontein

01:21 PM

Preview

Good morning and welcome to coverage of England's second ODI against South Africa at Bloemfontein. In Friday's day-nighter England's collapse against Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala after a fine opening stand cost them the match by 27 runs. There were a couple of positives for England – simply getting 10 overs out of Jofra Archer on the first rung of his international comeback, Sam Curran's shrewdness and skill as a white-ball bowler, some echoes of Liam Plunkett from Olly Stone, a decent knock from Dawid Malan and Jason Roy's joyful return to form against a very strong attack. It wasn't simply that he had been written off for this tour, he had been written off altogether after his post 2019 slump. As I wrote 48 hours ago, he did not look so much like a man over come by relief as one who had finally come through an exorcism.

Nevertheless England have won only two of nine ODIs since Jos Buttler took over as full-time captain and have lost four on the bounce. There are a lot of mitigating factors, not least the one highlighted by Ben Stokes, below, but also Jonny Bairstow's injury, Liam Livingstone's absence, the need to give Joe Root adequate rest, Stokes' retirement, Reece Topley's injury, the loss of Mark Wood and Archer and the fact that two bilateral series, this one and the one against Australia starting four days after England were crowned double world champions, have been approached, understandably, as experiments rather than do or die missions. If they lose all three here but see enough signs to suggest that Stone, for example, would be a useful member of the World Cup squad, they will deem it a success in terms of the process.

South Africa, whose forfeiture of the ODI series against Australia to allow them to use their international players in their relaunched T20 competition, meant that they needed to win their next five ODIs to qualify automatically for the October World Cup. One down, four to go (two against England, two versus Netherlands) and on this Bloemfontein pitch, which has good bounce and carry but is impervious to seam movement, they have the pace attack to move one step closer today. England have such a depth of white-ball talent – and there could be run-outs for Topley, Chris Woakes and possibly Phil Salt in match two – they can beat anyone on any given day. They just need to screw the nut.