South Africa claim first ODI after England collapse to Nortje and Magala

Jason Roy scored a vintage century to signal a welcome and overdue return to form but it wasn’t enough to prevent England losing a game they should have won comfortably when they went down by 27 runs to South Africa in the first of three ODIs at the Mangaung Oval on Friday night.

Sam Curran, with three for 35, led the way as England restricted the hosts to 298 for seven on a modestly two-paced but otherwise perfect batting surface and the run-chase was given the perfect start with Roy and Dawid Malan adding 146 for the first wicket.

Not for the first time England struggled against the pace of Anrich Nortje, who took four for 62, after seamer Sisanda Magala, who finished with three for 46, had taken vital early wickets and the world champions were bundled out for 271 having needed to score at less than five runs per over for the last 20 overs with seven wickets in hand.

“It was a game we should have won but these things happen in international cricket. Jason was exceptional and thoroughly deserved his success and Sam bowled beautifully,” England captain Jos Buttler said afterwards. “Jofra [Archer] sets very high standards for himself but our expectations of him are more realistic after such a long time out of the game. The fact he bowled 10 overs is a big step in his recovery.”

Roy concluded the only practice session England had before the game on Thursday with 20 minutes of ‘range-hitting’ which started with more toe-enders and miscues than sweet-spots but he finally started to find his groove. He made a flying start to the run chase and never looked back before departing for 113 from just 91 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.

The loss of three wickets for just six runs in two overs undid the work of the openers with Malan splicing a hook to mid off, Ben Duckett beaten by Nortje’s pace and Harry Brook’s format debut ending with a third-ball duck, trapped lbw by the burly Magala.

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Roy greeted his century with an angry roar of relief more than joy after a horrible 15 months out of form but just when it seemed he would steer the team to victory he pulled a short ball from Kagiso Rabada straight to the waiting man at deep square leg. It was a set-up and he knew it and he berated himself back to the dugout.

Several aspects of South Africa’s performance displayed just how far behind the pace of the international game they have fallen, chief amongst them the workmanlike century from Rassie van der Dussen during which he started in third gear and stayed there.

He is a fine cricketer with a remarkable average of 70 in ODI cricket but this innings did nothing to dispel the impression that he bats with that lofty average in mind rather than the specific needs of his team.

One of the flattest pitches in the country offered him the chance to score a fourth century, and second against England, but it was obvious from early on – from before a ball was bowled to local eyes – that a total of 350 would be a par score. Having reached 50 from 63 balls with just three boundaries, he neither accelerated nor looked inclined to try with his second 50 coming from 57 balls with another three fours.

Archer struggled on the docile, ‘gripping’ surface – his first five overs costing 41 runs although that did include a top-edged six over Buttler’s head from Temba Bavuma. His second spell was no less frustrating which saw him concede 20 runs in an over for the first time courtesy of two no-ball free hits, the first of which van der Dussen clobbered over the midwicket boundary. His 1-81 was the most expensive analysis of his career.

“We’ll learn the lessons from our mistakes and return wiser and stronger on Sunday,” Buttler said. The second game is a day game at the same venue and the series will conclude 100 miles away in Kimberley on Wednesday.