Jacob Bethell scored his much-anticipated first professional century before Jofra Archer ripped through South Africa as England thrashed the Proteas by a record 342 runs in the third one-day international in Southampton.
With the series gone, 21-year-old Bethell, long tipped for a huge future despite his meagre county experience, delivered on all of his promise by elegantly hitting 110 from 82 balls in England’s cruise to 414-5.
The left-hander put on 182 with Joe Root, who himself stroked a 96-ball 100, to lay a platform before Jos Buttler took on the scoring with a destructive 62 not out from 32 balls.
It was England’s highest total in ODIs for three years and their best effort at home since 2018, while Bethell’s ton, in his 33rd international innings, made him England’s second-youngest ODI centurion after David Gower.
South Africa were well below the standards set in their impressive wins at Headingley and Lord’s which had already secured the series with a game to spare.
They dropped Bethell on 44, gave away 19 wides and were 72-9 in 20.5 overs when the players shook hands with Temba Bavuma unable to bat – England’s winning margin the largest in the history of men’s ODIs in terms of runs.
Archer took four wickets in a fast and hostile new-ball spell, reducing the Proteas to 7-4 and 24-6 from which they never recovered. He finished with 4-18 and Adil Rashid 3-13.
Though the series was already gone, this was a morale-boosting win for England after a difficult run in the 50-over format.
The same sides now play a three-match T20 series starting on Wednesday in Cardiff.
