South Africa sink England in first ODI to deny Ben Stokes happy ending

For a split second Ben Stokes pondered the review but sense soon prevailed. The all-rounder had just been trapped plumb lbw by the part-time spin of Aiden Markram on five and with this a World Cup-winning one-day international career was done.

As he left the field his home supporters offered their latest ovation on a day littered with them. There was no grandstand finish for the Durham favourite nor, it proved, the team he leaves behind, South Africa overcoming their hosts and the heat to secure a 1-0 lead with a ruthless performance and a 62-run victory.

Stokes being Stokes would scarcely have cared about his own demise had England got over the line here. Instead he was forced to look on from the balcony as Jos Buttler’s side, earlier broiled in the field to the tune of 333 for five through Rassie van der Dussen’s classy 133 from 117 balls, crumbled to 271 all out from 46.5 overs.

Wickets at regular intervals had sucked the life out of the chase before Anrich Nortje shut it down with four late victims. Joe Root shone with 86 from 77 balls, similarly Jonny Bairstow made a return to the runs column with 63 from 71. But when the former was bowled by Nortje in the 45th over, attempting to force a cut shot off his stumps with 82 still required, South Africa could begin celebrating a party well pooped.

Like India before them the Proteas were just too good. After Van der Dussen set up their highest ODI total in England - and the second highest in the men’s game without a six being struck - Keshav Maharaj marshalled his attack smartly. The captain’s only misstep came when his collision with Andile Phehlukwayo in the field – a nasty shoulder to the jaw – led to Dwaine Pretorius coming on as a concussion sub.

England by contrast