De Kock, Bavuma put SA 1-0 up
New South Africa captain Quinton de Kock hit a century on his captaincy debut that, along with a 98 from Temba Bavuma, carried the hosts to a seven-wicket win over world champions England in the first ODI in Cape Town yesterday.
Chasing England’s 258 for eight, De Kock and Bavuma put on a 173-run second-wicket partnership after opener Beuran Hendricks was dismissed by Chris Woakes with the score on 25. De Kock brought up his 15th ODI ton off 106 balls before being dismissed by Joe Root for a 113-ball 107, which featured 11 boundaries and a six.
Bavuma made steady progress towards what would have been his second ODI century, but was trapped leg-before in the 43rd over by Chris Jordan. Rassie van der Dussen and JJ Smuts then took the team to victory with 14 balls to spare.
Earlier, Joe Denly hit a career-best 87 to lead an England fightback after being sent in on a slow pitch. They were floundering at 131 for six before Denly and Chris Woakes (40) came together in a seventh-wicket stand of 91.
Left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi did the major damage for South Africa, taking three for 38.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: 258 for 8 (Denly 87, Woakes 40, Roy 32; Shamsi 3-38)
SOUTH AFRICA: 259 for three in 47.4 overs (De Kock 107, Bavuma 98, der Dussen 38; Woakes 1-36, Root 1-35, Jordan 1-31)
Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets
Player-of-the-match: Quinton de Kock
