Summary

Smith survives after 'astonishing' Breetzke drop

Live Reporting

by Ffion Wynne

  1. Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Another fifty for Joe Root brings his ODI average this year to 72.9, his highest in a calendar year (next best 70.2 in 2017).

  2. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    That's Joe Root's 172nd half-century in all formats.

  3. 50 runs

    50 for Joe Root

    Eng 218-2

    England's run-machine just keeps going and going.

    A 56-ball fifty for Joe Root, who tucks a single into the leg side after being kept on 49 for a while with two wides from Wiaan Mulder.

    A nonchalant raise of the bat is followed by a flashing drive over point for four.

  4. On Jacob Bethell, he admitted earlier that he "probably should have played more" this summer as he was England's spare batter during the first four Tests of the series v India.

    But he also told Sky Sports that he will learn from this testing summer as he prepares to lead England against Ireland later this month.

    Read more here.

  5. 'He should have got his hands around it' - Burger drops Bethell at mid-on

    Here's that dropped chance of Bethell a few overs ago.

    Nandre Burger will have felt rather guilty watching Bethell reach his half-century.

  6. 6 runs

    Eng 209-2

    'As straight as straight can be' - Bethell hits Brevis down the ground for six

    This Bethell/Brevis battle is fun.

    They are both very exciting young talents for their respective countries and exchange a grin as the England batter gets the better of things for now, launching a fuller delivery straight down the ground for six.

  7. Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Former England batter on Test Match Special

    Jacob Bethell scoops past the wicketkeeperGetty Images

    We give players a hard time, don't we?

    Jacob Bethell's 21 and he's made five 50s in 15 one-day games - that's not bad!

  8. 50 runs

    50 for Jacob Bethell

    Eng 201-2

    Jacob Bethell celebrates his half-century vs South AfricaPA Media

    In the air... but safe, and that's back-to-back fifties for Jacob Bethell.

    This one is a little more pedestrian, from 48 balls, but after a tricky summer he is looking in great touch.

  9. Eng 200-2

    This is a decent passage of play for South Africa, just stalling the run rate somewhat, but England pass 200 with a single to Bethell and it feels like they're ready to start accelerating.

  10. Eng 196-2

    Interesting move.

    Dewald Brevis is on to bowl for the first time in ODIs, but neither Bethell nor Root are tempted into going after him just yet.

    Two singles are ticked off.

  11. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport journalist in Southampton

    The Bethell-Maharaj tussle was a really interesting one.

    Bethell faced 14 balls from South Africa's left-arm spinner.

    On the two occasions he was beaten he hit the very next ball for a boundary - one his big straight six and the other a clever reverse sweep.

  12. Eng 194-2

    Breetzke fumbles simple catch at extra cover to keep Smith at the crease

    In case you missed it earlier, South Africa also let an easy chance off Jamie Smith go begging.

  13. Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Former England batter on Test Match Special

    South Africa will be thinking about these catches today.

    That should've been taken.

    It was low and hit firmly, but equally he should have got his hands around it.

  14. dropped catch

    Bethell dropped on 44

    Eng 193-2

    'He should have got his hands around it' - Burger drops Bethell at mid-on

    Another one goes down!

    Jacob Bethell miscues a pull shot straight to Nandre Burger at mid-on but he spills the simplest of chances.

    It was struck firmly but he didn't have to move.

  15. Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on Test Match Special

    If you're in the South Africa camp, you'd currently be thinking 'this is a great batting wicket' and that can get into your mind - even though it maybe it isn't like that and perhaps you just haven't bowled as well as you can.

    If I was Temba Bavuma, I'd want to know from the support staff 'have we bowled badly, or is it a good wicket?'

  16. Eng 191-2

    Corbin Bosch bowls vs EnglandGetty Images

    Frustration for Corbin Bosch, who's had an excellent series with the ball.

    The final ball of the over is too full and Joe Root tickles it fine for his second boundary.

  17. Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    The promotion of Jacob Bethell has pushed Keshav Maharaj away from his tried and tested stump-to-stump method in ODIs. Only 25% of the deliveries Maharaj has bowled to Bethell this series are hitting the stumps, down from 43% to the rest of England's batters.

  18. Aatif Nawaz
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Joe Root bats vs South AfricaGetty Images

    Joe Root is accumulating as serenely as ever. England are building nicely, simmering almost.

  19. Eng 184-2

    Cheers, Mike. How are we all?

    This has been very pleasant viewing for a Sunday afternoon. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell have serenely led England to a very promising position.

    Root has 41 from 45 balls, which only includes one four so far. Textbook.

  20. Eng 179-2

    Changes at both ends as Corbin Bosch replaces Keshav Maharaj.

    Seven runs come off his over as England reach the half way stage in good order.

    To see if they can crack onto a really big total, here's Ffion Wynne.