BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — England got off to a commanding start to their pursuit and South Africa won the first one-day cap for 27 runs with a memorable comeback on Friday.
Jason Roy made 113 for England and his opening group of 146 off 118 balls with Dawid Malan (59) seemed to put the visitors on course for an easy win chasing 299.
But England went from 146-0 in 20 overs to 271 on aggregate as South Africa’s fast bowlers came around to win the game in Bloemfontein.
Anrich Nortje claimed 4-62, Sisanda Magala 3-46 and Kagiso Rabada 2-46 for South Africa.
England reeled first when they lost Malan, Ben Duckett (3) and debutant Harry Brook (0) for six runs in the space of three overs, with Magala taking two of those wickets in his first ODI in a year.
England were still in a strong position until Nortje forced captain Jos Buttler back at the start of a searing late spell that brought him three of his wickets and ended England’s hopes.
Buttler’s departure for 36 left England 234-6 and with Sam Curran the only recognized batsman left.
He tried to guide England home with many overs remaining, but crucially he feathered an edge behind wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock on the last ball of Rabada’s 10 overs and the momentum had really shifted.
Nortje came in to remove Jofra Archer for a duck and Tabraiz Shamsi sealed the win by catching and throwing Olly Stone, though Shamsi juggled and nearly dropped the catch. She held on and ran off to celebrate.
England had nearly six overs left when Stone was last out.
South Africa took a 1-0 lead in a three-game series that was postponed to late 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and teams have waited more than two years to finally play.
Archer was back in the England squad for the first time in almost two years after elbow and back injuries and the fast bowler came back to 1-81 as South Africa batted first. Curran led the England bowling with 3-35.
Rassie van der Dussen hit 111 for South Africa and David Miller hit 53, but Proteas’ 298-7 was not seen as a discouraging score from a solid batting range at Mangaung Oval.
Roy and Malan gave England a commanding start, and the South African-born Roy hit 11 fours and four sixes in his first ODI century against a top-flight side since 2019.
England were still in control when Roy blasted a shot from Rabada straight at Wayne Parnell on the line.
Nortje’s pace and aggressiveness, backed by Magala and Rabada, sparked the comeback.
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