Southampton: Ben Stokes made South Africa pay for dropping him twice in his first two balls with a century that powered England to 330 for six in the second One-day International here.
There had been some doubt over whether Stokes would play on Saturday after briefly leaving the field with left knee trouble during England’s 72-run win at Headingley on Wednesday.
But ahead of next week’s Champions Trophy tournament in England, the all-rounder showed no discomfort with the bat.
His 79-ball innings, just his second century in 55 matches at this level, featured 11 fours and three sixes.
Stokes, the Indian Premier League’s record two-million- dollar-man, shared stands of 95 with skipper Eoin Morgan and 77 with Jos Buttler.
After Stokes fell, wicket-keeper/batsman Buttler kept up the attack with a typically dashing 65 not out as England looked to go 2-0 up with one to play in this three-matcha series.
South Africa, the world’s top-ranked ODI side, dropped six catches during a sloppy fielding display, with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj three times denied a wicket in his debut at this level.
Proteas captain AB de Villiers opted to field first after winning the toss in overcast conditions that promised to aid swing movement.
South Africa had an early success when Jason Roy (eight), was bowled trying to whip a Kagiso Rabada yorker legside.
But Joe Root several times drove seamer Dwaine Pretorius — one of three South Africa changes from Wednesday’s match — for fours through mid-on.
Alex Hales, dropped on 18 when a six off Maharaj went straight through Rabada’s hands at long-on, was still on 24 when well caught by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock, standing up to the stumps, off Pretorius.
England’s 70 for two then became 80 for three when Root was unluckily run out backing up for 39 as Pretorius deflected Morgan’s drive onto the non-striker’s stumps.
South Africa, however, then missed dangerman Stokes twice in his first two balls, with Maharaj again the unfortunate bowler.
He deceived Stokes with a well-flighted delivery that took the left-hander’s outside edge only for the ball to go straight through Hashim Amla’s hands at slip for four.
Next ball produced another edge, with de Kock failing to hold a more difficult chance.
Morgan, fresh from his hundred on Wednesday, was also given two reprieves.
The left-hander had made 16 when Pretorius failed to hold a tough, low caught and bowled chance and on 22 he saw de Kock, standing up to medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo, unable to hold a thick edge.
Stokes hoisted both Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris high over deep midwicket for sixes.
He had equalled his previous ODI best of 101, against Bangladesh in Dhaka in October, when he found David Miller at long-off to give Maharaj a deserved wicket.
Buttler, one of whose seven fours was an extraordinary reverse swot off Phehlukwayo, kept the runs coming, as England scored 111 in their last 10 overs. (AFP)
