Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"There is a good opportunity here for England to take on Duminy. He does not get much turn and doesn't have a lot of variety. On this wicket, if he tosses one up Hales will put everything through it down the pitch."

Eng 129-1 (Hales 57, Root 19)published at 16.5 overs

16.5 overs

AB de Villiers decides that Tahir isn't cutting the mustard and goes back to the part-time offies of JP Duminy, who has probably been the pick of the bowlers so far. Pick of the bowlers? Try telling that to Alex Hales. A shimmy, a free swing, a one-legged follow-through, a huge biff over long on. Whallop.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"This is really important for Hales because of the scenario round the Test series. It's important he stamps his mark today. He's been patient and picked up the pace. It's a great start but he needs to keep going, especially on this wicket."

50 for Alex Halespublished at 16 overs

16 overs

Eng 121-1

Image source, AP

A half-century for Alex Hales, one of the more simple he will make in ODI cricket and certainly a big contrast from his struggles in the Test series. A third ODI fifty in 40 balls has been aided by some woeful bowling, but he's still had to put them away, mainly with drives through the covers and down the ground.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"I was speaking to former South Africa bowler Makhaya Ntini outside and he said this was his favourite wicket to bowl on - because it forces you to think how to put pressure on the batsmen."

It's almost like watching a game of Stick Cricket. Ball bowled, usually nowhere near the place it should be, with the batsman choosing his spot and belting it to the boundary past a fielder diving like an extra from Platoon. It's hard to judge a score before both teams have batted and yes, it's a good deck, a lightning outfield and a scorching day, but you have to think England will bowl better than this. Tahir to Hales, four through the covers.

Joe Thomas: In an under 15s game, we were bowled out for 5... All of which were extras.

Image source, Rex Features

Seriously, what is going on with the South Africa pace bowlers? Have they got a collective case of the yips? Or have the decided that an array of half-volleys and long hops is the best way to bowl on this belting deck? Chris Morris back for Morne Morkel, too short and pulled for four by Hales. Any chance of some top-of-off-stump action? The poles never move. England have scored 101 runs off the bat, with 65 of those coming on the leg side. The bowling has been absolute dross.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Root likes to attack spinners but the way he does it is off the back foot. He doesn't like to lunge or go down the pitch. He drags the spinner a bit fuller in length and then attacks."

More spin, this time the leggies of Imran Tahir, ranked the fourth best ODI bowlers in the world by the ICC. Beardy, elastic-limbed stuff from Tahir, who drags down an awful half-tracker for Root to pull for four.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"They were special shots from Alex Hales. They were good balls by anyone's books but he swung through the line. AB de Villiers and Morkel now need to think - do they need a straight man on the boundary."

News from Dubai, where the UAE have rallied to 61-8. Morne Morkel fights with his line, desperately trying not to get too straight. In his battle of the giants with Hales, the England opener plonks one back down the ground for four, the first boundary in 24 balls. And again, this time over mid-wicket. Morkel pays the price for bowling too full.

Oli Guy: My clubs cricket team once bowled a side out for 4, 2 of the 4 were extras.

Matt Bodsworth: Our U15s side a few years ago were bowled out for 13 with extras top scorer on 7... Three of us got a golden duck.

Still Duminy, now with the luxury of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Singles on the menu - we've well and truly arrived in the mid-overs of an ODI. When Root gets an inside edge, Morne Morkel is forced to chase to fine leg like a man running for the last bus.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Sometimes groundsmen know when the big screen is really on them, so they save their Test pitch and work hard on them to make them really good. I assume that is what has happened here."

After the storm, the calm. The chaos caused by Jason Roy seems to have abated, with both teams now taking a deep breath. Good stuff from Morne Morkel, targeting the sticks to keep Hales honest. When he gets a little too straight, there's cover at fine leg. The end of a very good powerplay for England.

Image source, Getty Images

This is an interesting move. Spin into the attack in the ninth over in the shape of JP Duminy. I think this a two-pronged plan. One to stem the tide, and another because AB de Villiers doesn't fancy Joe Root against off-spin - Dane Piedt had Joe in trouble during the final Test. Decent start from Duminy. I reckon we'll see plenty of slow stuff from both sides. 

Nicholas Smith: Captained an under-15 side which were bowled out for 19. Match finished within 45 minutes and the last ball was a wide.

Isn't it amazing that the basics of sticking the ball in the right place can actually bring a wicket? Whereas De Lange was bowling like a hosepipe than had been left unattended, Morkel got the ball in the right place to create a chance, then take a wicket. Joe Root the new man.