Consolation win for South Africa after England collapse

Kagiso Rabada led the way as England’s top order collapsed dramatically to pave the way for a seven-wicket consolation win for South Africa in the third and final One-Day International at Lord's on Monday.

England slumped to 20 for 6 – the first time in an ODI where six wickets had gone down in the first five overs of an inning – after losing the toss. Jonny Bairstow's battling half-century helped England recover to 153, but it didn’t look enough, and South Africa proved that by getting to 156 for 3, JP Duminy sealing the win with a four off David Willey.

England took the three-match series 2-1 but this was a morale-boosting success for the South Africans ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which starts on June 1 with a fixture between England, the host, and Bangladesh.

Rabada took four wickets for 12 runs in his first three overs on his way to 4 for 39, while Wayne Parnell grabbed 3 for 43 and Keshav Maharaj had 3 for 25.

Bairstow apart, the only other England batsmen to reach double-figures were Willey (26) and Toby Roland-Jones, who made an impressive run-a-ball 37 not out from No. 9 on his international debut.

Hashim Amla (55) and Quinton de Kock (34) put on 95 for the first wicket but both openers fell on the same total. Amla became Roland-Jones's first ODI wicket when he bottom-edged a pull on to his stumps and, three balls later, de Kock was yorked by Jake Ball, who also sent back Faf du Plessis.

But Duminy (28 not out) and AB de Villiers (27 not out) completed the win in a match where only 60 overs out of a scheduled 100 were needed.

Earlier, an overcast morning and a freenish pitch meant de Villiers opted to field upon winning the toss.

As it turned out, South Africa only needed five overs to have England six down.

Rabada struck with just the fifth ball of the match when Jason Roy edged a good length ball to Amla at first slip. Next over, Joe Root was lbw to a swinging delivery from left Parnell, and then England lost its next two wickets on 15 – Parnell first accounting for Eoin Morgan and Rabada getting Alex Hales caught behind next ball.

It was the start of a brilliant over that yielded three wickets in five balls for Rabada. His fifth ball had Jos Buttler, going for a big drive, well caught by du Plessis at second slip. Next ball, England became 20 for 6 when Adil Rashid attempted a huge drive and edged to du Plessis for a golden duck.

Bairstow, recalled for this match as England rested some of the regulars, pressed his claims for a first XI place with a 67-ball innings featuring eight fours. He showed his class by cover-driving Rabada and cutting a below-par Morne Morkel for well-struck boundaries. But he gave his wicket away when he charged at Maharaj only to be stumped by de Kock.

Roland-Jones struck five fours in his impressive knock but the damage had been done by then.