For a split second, Ben Stokes pondered the review, but reason soon prevailed. The all-rounder had just been trapped with sheer pounds by Aidan Markram’s part-time spin at five, ending a World Cup-winning one-day international career.
As he left the pitch, his home supporters offered their final ovation on a day full of them. There was no grandstand finish for the Durham favorite and, as it turned out, the team he leaves behind, South Africa, overcame their hosts and the heat to secure a 1-0 lead with a ruthless performance and a 62-run victory .
Stokes, being Stokes, would hardly have cared about his own demise if England had crossed the line here. Instead, he was forced to watch from the balcony as Jos Buttler’s side, earlier baked to 333 for five by Rassie van der Dussen’s classy 133 from 117 balls, crumbled to 271 all out in 46.5 overs.
Wickets at regular intervals had sucked the life out of the chase before Henrich Nortier ended it with four late victims. Joe Root shone with 86 off 77 balls, similarly Jonny Bairstow got back into the run column with 63 off 71. But when the former was dismissed by Nortier in the 45th over, trying to force a short shot off his stumps with 82, which were still required , South Africa can start celebrating a party, well shit.
Like India before them, the Proteas were too good. After Van der Dussen made his highest ODI total in England – and the second highest in the men’s game without a six being scored – Keshav Maharaj orchestrated his attack smartly. The captain’s only misstep came when his clash with Andile Phehlukwayo in the field – a nasty shoulder to the jaw – saw Dwayne Pretorius come on as a back-up.
Rassie van der Dusen hit a superb century as South Africa set England a formidable target of 334. Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
England, on the other hand, continued what has been a struggle to adjust to life after Eoin Morgan. There was a return to the old intentions and an age-old stance to begin their pursuit.
But too often the execution went awry, be it Jason Roy’s 62-ball 43 ending in a covert lift to long-on or Bairstow lbw to Markram trying to clean up.
Buttler and Moeen Ali fell cheaply to the left-arm spin of Tabraiz Shamsi, while Liam Livingstone cut himself trying to hit Lungi Ngidi. Having earlier dropped Bairstow on 18 in the deep and earning some ironic cheers from the home crowd for his trouble, it was a particularly sweet moment for the fast bowler.
It was a punishing day as the mercury hit 38, ice creams slid out of cones and lines for water wound longer than those for beer. Shade was sparse (offering little respite anyway), so a number of spectators left early with the intention of returning once the peak had passed.
Somehow the players and the officials kept fighting.
All but ODI debutant Matt Potts, however, with his fine start to life as an England cricketer, struck his first blow when, after his first four overs that bled 33 runs, he left the field with heat exhaustion and did not return in the first innings. Drinks were mercifully frequent thereafter, the 12 men bringing out umbrellas and ice packs each time.
Although Potts later came out to bat, his absence tested Butler’s attack after the loss of the toss. The swing was absent, the spin was only fleeting and the shots were duly put away. The seamers toiled the hardest – Stokes grimaced for five costly overs due to his knee problem – while Moeen and the returning Adil Rashid bowled the longer spells.
Of the three Durham cricketers, the pick was Brydon Carse, who dispatched nine overs of commendable weight for just 46 runs, including two at the end which returned one for 12. Like Maharaj’s figures of one for 42 from 10 overs later onwards, it felt like a triumph under the circumstances.
After Sam Curran beat Quinton de Kock in the powerplay, two century stands with van der Dusen were forged in the furnace.
Ben Stokes receives a standing ovation from the Durham crowd as he heads to the pavilion. Photo: Gareth Copley/ECB/Getty Images
Janneman Malan helped pile up 109 for the second wicket before the opener chipped away at Moen for a 77-ball 57 and Markram then helped add 151 for the third with a 61-ball 77. All three right-handers played up the percentages as their hosts visibly they fought
Van der Dusen rose to the top, honing the ball down the ground for his third ODI century from just 90 balls.
Life appeared on 121 as he looked to continue, Bairstow spilling one in the deep before both men fell to ambitious lifts from Livingston in the 46th over as Buttler used his spinners late on.
As the players left the field at mid-stage, Stokes stopped to tip his cap to a youngster outside the pavilion – a lovely moment at the end of a one-day career that inspired many more. Stokes now turns his attention to what is a resurgent Test team, while Buttler suddenly becomes England’s captain with all the headaches.
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