England pummel South Africa to earn morale-boosting consolation win

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 1:46 PM ET

England have signed off the ODI series versus South Africa with a thumping victory, closing out the three-match rubber on an emphatic note. The tourists were right on the money in the first two matches and that helped them gain an unassailable lead, but the host nation excelled in all aspects today.

The English batters flourished as Smith composed a fifty at the top while Root and Bethell struck handsome centuries to dominate the middle phase. Buttler’s 27-ball fifty in the death overs then propelled his team to a mammoth 414. In response, the Proteas were taken aback by the velocity of Jofra Archer. He steamed in with intent, bowled rapid pace and rattled the opposition. His 4-fer made mincemeat of the visitors within the first powerplay, and with Brydon Carse offering able support from the other end the writing was on the wall for the Proteas.

Bosch resisted for a while but that was only an effort to delay the inevitable. Adil Rashid took three wickets to close out the game. Only three of the South African batters were able to get themselves to double-digits, and that statistic speaks volumes of how ruthless England were with the ball. Bavuma didn’t come out to bat today as he had a calf strain and there was no point in risking the South African skipper as there was a chance he may have had aggravated his injury.

In the first innings, experience and youth joined forces to blow the Proteas to smithereens as England raked up their fifth-highest total in the ODI format. Highly-rated England youngster Jacob Bethell notched up his maiden century in international cricket. The 21-year-old reached the coveted three-figure mark in the third and final ODI against South Africa at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. He forged a 182-run partnership in 144 balls with experienced campaigner Joe Root after openers Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith set the tone.

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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