Summary

South Africa fall to 24-6 as Archer dominates

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter, Ffion Wynne & Henry Cowling

  1. Eng 254-2

    Root 64, Bethell 84

    A stroke of luck for Joe Root.

    Cobi Yusuf draws a rare false shot from him, which flies off the top edge but lands safely in front of the fielder at deep square leg.

    Nothing false about the next one from Bethell, though. He drives beautifully past mid-off for four more.

  2. 6 runs

    Eng 246-2

    'High, long and handsome' - Bethell smashes Brevis for six over long on

    Yep, he's had enough of respecting Brevis' part-time spin.

    Jacob Bethell lofts his third six down the ground with lovely footwork, and with Joe Root clubbing a four earlier in the over, it's a productive one - 14 from it.

    I suspect that's the last we'll see of Brevis with the ball.

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

    England are definitely trying to up the tempo.

  4. Eng 232-2

    Jacob Bethell bats vs South AfricaGetty Images

    Back-to-back fours for Bethell!

    He drives past cover before latching on to a short ball from Codi Yusuf which he times to perfection.

    He looks ready to kick on - best of luck to the bowlers.

  5. Get Involved

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    Jacob Bethell looks on before the third ODI between England and South AfricaGetty Images

    Christian Evans: Sometimes it’s easy to forget Bethell is only 21 years old, I think he needs more support around him and less people getting on his back.

    Alex Thomas: Great to see Bethell back to looking in run-scoring form, becoming clear to see the potential he has. Remarkable what playing actual cricket for a few weeks can do for you!

  6. Eng 221-2

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

    Dewald Brevis continues after drinks and concedes just three singles as Root and Bethell ease back into their work.

    Bethell struck him for this glorious six in the part-timer's previous over.

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

    WinvizCricviz

    England have definitely warmed up game by game.

    It helped today with the start from Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett - they set a good score.

    Then with Joe Root - every time he comes out, it's low-risk. It's like artistry.

    Then the likes of Jacob Bethell who are trying to be positive.

    The key here is to keep their foot on the gas and keep the score ticking, but know at what point to accelerate.

  8. Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Joe Root bats vs South AfricaGetty Images

    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).

  9. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

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

  10. 50 runs

    50 for Joe Root

    Eng 218-2

    Joe Root lifts his bat in celebration of his half-century vs South Africa.PA Media

    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.

  11. 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.

  12. '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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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!

  15. 50 runs

    50 for Jacob Bethell

    Eng 201-2

    Bethell hits half-century as England in control of third ODI

    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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.