Match abandoned: SA 250-5 (33.3)
De Kock 138* off 96 balls
England's second highest ODI total
Buttler 105 off 76, Stokes 57, Hales 57
England lead 1-0 in five-match series
Eng 197-2
Thanks Steph. Fine work, sir. Well, this is going well. I've got a swine of a cold but this - and some lemony-tasting stuff in a mug - is pepping me right up. I almost cursed the whole think in my first over as Buttler looks to turn one to leg off Farhaan Berhadien and drops it just short of the bowler. Buttler wouldn't have been able to look himself in the mirror if he chucked away this start to that. Six off the over.
Some chap called Raymond James has just emailed tms@bbc.co.uk with a February printing offer. That's very kind, but I have no need for business cards, Raymond. De Villiers summons Morne Morkel, with Root, the silent partner, late-cutting for four. I'm off to research England's ODI batting records, so here's Phil Dawkes.
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty Images"I hope Jos Buttler does get an IPL offer, I hope he does go and I hope he does well."
Farhaan Berhadien is the latest lamb to the slaughter, his Chris Harris-style medium-pace is biffed back down the ground by Buttler, who might as well be batting against an under-11 side. There's a boundary through point and a drive through the covers too. The 50 partnership comes up in exactly six over. AB de Villiers, the South Africa captain, looks like a man with a worry list longer than Adrian Mole. "My bowlers are getting smashed, I don't really want to be Test captain, did I turn the cooker off, the weak Rand, the Zika virus..."
Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Rex Features"England could - I won't say should - get 400."
England really could, and probably should, get 400 from here. It's like watching a highlights package at the moment, with Jos Buttler's only decision if he's going to hit the ball for four or six. JP Duminy back on, a hoik for six over mid-wicket, then a reverse sweep for four. This bloke is part brute, part magician.
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
"If any decent baseball teams were here they would be looking at De Lange and wondering what he was doing. There is no change of pace. It is straight up and down. The best bowlers have changes of pace and delivery. You can't just keep running up and bowling on a pitch like this, especially to someone like Buttler, who will just kill you."
Even when it looks like South Africa might sneak in a quiet over, Buttler's innovation finds a boundary. That's probably why he's been promoted. First a walk across to pull De Lange for four, then an outrageous step to whip over mid-wicket for six. There's not much wrong with the ball, and it was over 90mph, but Buttler has swatted it away. Unreal.
Today’s #QSTeaser, external from @QuestionofSport, external: Who are the 6 players to have scored over 6000 ODI runs for South Africa? Stay tuned for the answers later...
It still is Tahir, who doesn't dare offer the slightest hint of air, firing his leg-breaks down a tube at the pace of a seam bowler. Not that it stops Buttler from having a dance, with a quick-step worthy of Strictly resulting in a drive lofted over long-off and on to the roof of the stand. Sixer.
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special
"I think this is a key phase now for England. I don't think Duminy has much to offer so they will go after him. De Villiers will have to use Tahir sensibly."
I'm told that there have been droughts affecting central South Africa. Evidence is here in the shape of the scorched outfield. This is much better by De Lange, who is sporting the sort of whispy moustache you might see on the face of a teenager. Only one from it.
Image source, Getty ImagesBack comes Imran Tahir, perhaps in an attempt to bamboozle the new batsman. Buttler, happy to have a look before he tickles the accelerator, sniffs a couple of forward defensive strokes and helps himself to a pair of singles.
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special
"England clearly want to give Jos Buttler some time at the crease and also keep that momentum and aggression coming."
A huge statement of intent from England, who promote Jos Buttler to number four. Imagine how many they'll have if he bats the remaining 32 overs. He watches from the non-striker's end as Root clips for four. Replays of the Hales dismissal don't make the shot look any better.
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty Images"Hales didn't quite get into the right position there, but there was a nip and it got a bit high on the bat and awkward for the batsman. That is frustrating for him because he had that platform."
Hales c De Villiers b De Lange 57 (Eng 130-2)
Image source, Getty ImagesGone! Marchant de Lange, who previously performed like a man who had never bowled before, returns to dismiss Alex Hales. It's a pretty ugly swipe from Hales, nothing more than a slog that ends up in the hands of AB de Villiers at mid-off. Like Jason Roy, he'll feel he's left a big one out there.
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, AFP"Hales has paced his innings really well. Although he was in Roy's shadow a bit early on he was still going at a run a ball. It is a real skill to be able to accelerate like he has. We know he is under a bit of pressure but his whole approach today has been spot on."
I'm not entirely sure what happened there, but they took drinks after only five balls of the over. Did they need a break while they found the ball that Hales sent to the stands?
