ENG VS RSA - 3rd ODI, South Africa tour of England, 2017

England vs South Africa

South Africa won by 7 wkts

RSA -156/3 (28.5)

ENG -153/10 (31.1)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Kagiso Rabada

Batter

R
B
4s
6s
SR
28
43
3
0
65.12
27
30
5
0
90

Bowler

O
M
R
W
ECO
7
1
35
0
5

And now the splash of Champagne to celebrate the occasion. That's it from this game. Another round of warm-up games to go but England and South Africa are done with the series. Both teams now will have a fair idea about how to approach the Champions Trophy. Always helps to have competitive experience under the belt before such events. We will see you when the tournament starts. Until then have fun and start the countdown. Abhishek Chaudhary signs off along with Sagar Chawla, Akshay Maanay and Siva.

Eoin Morgan, Man of the series: Obviously the first hour summed it up. Tinge of green and we nicked everything. Credit to South Africa bowlers. They made the most of the conditions. Losing 6 wickets in the first five overs (pauses). It is certainly not to trying, we have put in a hell of a lot in this series. If we look at our dismissals today, they made us play a lot of defensive shots and not let us get away. That is a lesson for our bowlers and batters. In the Rose Bowl we were 37 after 10 overs and still posted over 300, today was just not our day. Not a concern at all. It was precautionary. It gives guys a day's rest going into Thursday's game and be mentally and physically fit going into the tournament. Jason has scored heavily for us. The way he scores, a big score is always around the corner. It is an important series for a few of us. It is awesome to get guys back. We have gained a lot of confidence from this series and it is important to take it into the Champions Trophy. It's flattering to be the favourites. But today was a reminder that we don't need to get complacent going into the tournament (Champions Trophy).

England players receive the winners' medallions

de Villiers: It is looking a lot better now. After winning a good game of cricket. We had a lot to play for today. It is very pleasing for me. There are some encouraging signs after today. The boys hung on to almost everything that came their way. Still a few areas to work on the field. It comes down to the basics again. Top of off. Exceptional performance by the bowling unit. All three grounds have been different, the conditions have changed. It is all about seniors players and some of the guys communicating with the rest of the team. We are pretty sure, before we came here we had a fair idea of the best XI, I think the team can change. We are very confident of our chances going into the tournament. There are quite a few teams who can win it but we would like to think we have got a good chance.

Kagiso Rabada (Man of the Match): There was something there for the bowlers today. Glad all of us could capitalize. I don't think it was that bad, we did not struggle here (with the slope). It was a bit tough adjusting at Leeds. That's what you plan on doing or try to do (improving game by game). If you are not getting better, that is a bit of concern. It is nice to bowl into wicket, there is some good bounce on these wickets. Unfortunately we couldn't win this series but that is how it has been scripted, hopefully we can go to the Champions Trophy on a high.

South Africa though look a little fidgety, this despite the one-sided win today. They are no close to sorting out the final 11 and the workload on Rabada seems to have no end. However, they will seek comfort in the fact that if the weather supports them a touch, the bowling can actually look far better than what it has been of late. Presentations in a while..

16:29 Local Time, 15:29 GMT, 20:59 IST: In the end a comfortable win for South Africa but not before it exposed their inability to handle the ball when it does something off the track. England were a little complacent coming into the game. Ended up resting a few players and then lost 6 wickets inside 5 overs. From thereon it was always the catching-up game. Willey and Bairstow ensured that they had something to play but that was never enough. And after South Africa got off to a solid start, only formalities were needed. England have tested all their weapons so far. Might have finalized the team they would want to field in the Champions Trophy. Bairstow's innings today will only add to their belief.

28.5

4

Willey to Duminy, FOUR, that should be it. Drives off the front foot and finds the gap through cover. South Africa win by 7 wickets

28.4

Willey to Duminy, no run, drives well but finds the man at extra cover

28.3

Willey to Duminy, no run, Duminy almost drags that on. Wanted to punch off the back foot and got a thick edge that deflected off his body beside the pitch

28.2

Willey to de Villiers, 1 run, much fuller. de Villiers drives straight to the man at long-off

28.1

4

Willey to de Villiers, FOUR, room on offer, sits up well. de Villiers cuts through a vacant point region. Just three needed now

END OF OVER 28

5 Runs

RSA: 147 - 3

1 2 1 0 1 0

AB de Villiers

22 (28)

Jean-Paul Duminy

24 (40)

Finn

7-1-35-0

27.6

Finn to Duminy, no run, very full ball on off, jammed away to point

27.5

Finn to de Villiers, 1 run, back to angling in from wide of the crease. de Villiers hops and tucks behind on the on-side

27.4

Finn to de Villiers, no run, straightens away a bit to beat an attempted defence from de Villiers

27.3

Finn to Duminy, 1 run, shortish length, angling in. Duminy tucks to backward square leg

27.2

Finn to Duminy, 2 runs, easily done again. Does not get on the front foot, lets the ball come to him and taps through point. The man is a bit square and that allows him two

27.1

Finn to de Villiers, 1 run, tries to defend, the ball takes the inside edge and rolls behind on the on-side

END OF OVER 27

10 Runs

RSA: 142 - 3

1 0 0 4 4 1

AB de Villiers

20 (25)

Jean-Paul Duminy

21 (37)

Willey

4-0-34-0

26.6

Willey to de Villiers, 1 run, pushes off the back foot, square on the off-side for a single

26.5

4

Willey to de Villiers, FOUR, width this time. Slashes hard and hits it past the fielder at gully. 13 away now