A magnificent century from England skipper Eoin Morgan sent England on their way to a comprehensive 72-run win over top-ranked South Africa at Headingley.
Morgan smashed 107 off 93 balls to become only the second man behind Marcus Trescothick to reach 10 ODI centuries for England as his side posted 339/6 off their 50 overs.
In reply, South Africa slipped from 145/1 to 267 all out, their last hope shredded when captain AB De Villiers fell for 45. England go one up in the three-match series.
After being inserted by De Villiers, Englans saw Jason Roy last just six balls before he went for one, caught by Quinton de Kock after flashing hard at a wide Wayne Parnell delivery. Joe Root got off the mark with a glorious drive first ball and he and Hales played predominantly on the offside as they brought up the 50 partnership in 53 balls.
Hales tucked away a free hit after Kagiso Rabada overstepped and helped himself to a couple of boundaries as Chris Morris overmatched. His eighth ODI half century came up off 52 balls. But soon after he’d deposited Parnell into the stands with a huge six he chased a wide loosener from Andile Phehlukwayo and nicked behind for 61.
Morgan’s slow start was punctured by a big six over wide mid on but Phehlukwayo would strike later in the over, firing down a bouncer that climbed on Root who could only pop the ball up for Hashim Amla and depart for 37. Ben Stokes eased into proceedings in his first game back from the IPL but Morgan continued to use his wrists, hitting both JP Duminy and Imran Tahir over extra cover for boundaries.
Stokes bashed Rabada down the ground for six but fell the next over, hooking straight to David Miller on the leg side fence for 25. De Villiers kept four catchers in for new man Jos Buttler and it paid dividends, the wicketkeeper flicking Morris to Miller at leg gully for just 7. At that stage England were 198/5.
Morgan’s third six came off a free hit, Phehlukwayo’s slower ball bouncer sent into the stands, and Moeen Ali opened his shoulders after a slow start to whack Parnell over the ropes from a fullish ball. The pair put on 117 to ensure England took 102 from the final 10 overs.
Moeen cut loose in the 45th over, slapping Tahir for three straight sixes to bring up his half century off 36 balls - the Worcestershire man had been 12 off his first 20. Morgan then took the assault to Phehlukwayo as the 100 partnership came off the 73rd ball.
Another six would take Morgan to his 11th ODI hundred, and tenth for England, joining Marcus Trescothick having passed that landmark. He departed for 107, caught at by Duminy off Morris but Moeen launched the final ball of the innings for six to finish on 77 not out from 51 balls.
Hashim Amla got South Africa off to a steady start with a succession of glorious drives but Quinton de Kock toiled a little, before sending a steepler into the night sky that Buttler caught after scampering down to fine leg and practically barging Mark Wood out of the way. Faf du Plessis took three boundaries off Woakes’ fifth over but both he and Amla struggled to pick Adil Rashid when he came on in the 11th, the latter inside edging a googly past his stumps.
Amla brought up his 32nd ODI half century with a flick to fine leg and Du Plessis then punched Stokes for four through mid-wicket before the England all-rounder went off for treatment on a knee injury. He would later return but not bowl. the pair had been coasting before two wickets in two overs changed the game.
England called for a review after the returning Wood trapped Amla in front on 73 and were delighted to be proved right. Then in the very next over Morgan brought Plunkett back and he enticed an edge from Du Plessis for 67.
AB de Villiers began with a powerful drive down the ground but watched a procession of partners give their wickets away at the other end. JP Duminy got to 15 before hoisting a poor ball from Rashid down Chris Woakes’ throat. David Miller offered up a carbon copy, hooking Woakes to Ben Stokes on the fence.
Then England claimed the big scalp. Having slapped consecutive boundaries off Woakes, De Villiers tried to send Moeen into the Headingley Taverners Club but could only pick out Plunkett, who took a good catch. With him went South Africa’s hopes. Phehlukwayo was bowled round his legs by Rashid for just four and though Parnell landed a few lusty blows to the fence he was then done for pace by woakes, offering an easy catch to Mark Wood at mid-off.
Two balls later Rabada edged behind to Buttler to hand Woakes his fourth wicket and England an excellent win.
Next up the two sides meet at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton before the Series finale next week and the start of the ICC Champions Trophy. The two nations do battle again in a three-match NatWest International T20 Series, with the final match at the end of June in Cardiff.
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