England fell carelessly to a 27-point defeat in the first one-day international against South Africa despite Jason Roy’s belligerent century at Bloemfontein.
On the day Jofra Archer made his return from injury, fly-half Roy crushed a century of 79 balls to seemingly put his side on course for a comfortable victory in pursuit of 299.
He propelled England 146-0 on 20 assists and 196-3 in the 30th before being caught on the edge for 113 from 91 balls.
But Moeen Ali’s wicket four overs later began a six-wicket slump for 49 runs in the face of fast and spirited bowling.
Anrich Nortje took 3-13 in a four-over period and England were knocked out for 271 with 5.4 overs to go to complete a remarkable turnover.
Rassie van der Dussen had earlier hit a measured 111 from 117 balls in South Africa’s 298-7.
It looked like the hosts had failed to capitalize on their 75-1 after 10 overs and 167-3 after 30, with Sam Curran leading an England fightback with 3-35.
In his first England appearance for almost two years, Archer struggled at times, finishing with numbers 1-81 from 10 overs – his most expensive numbers in ODI.
The win puts South Africa 1-0 up in the three-game series ahead of Sunday’s second ODI and boosts the hosts’ bid to automatically qualify for this 50+ World Cup. year.
More soon.
