Rassie van der Dussen scored a sparkling century as South Africa defeated England by 62 runs in the first one day international at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock got South Africa off to a solid start. The duo put on 35 runs for the opening stand before Sam Curran broke the stand by dismissing De Kock, bowled for 19.
Malan along with Van Der Duseen featured in a 109 run stand for the second wicket before the former (57) holed out to deep midwicket boundary by Livingstone off Moeen Ali.
The 33 year old right hander was involved in yet another magnificent 151 run stand for the third wicket along side Aiden Markram before the latter perished to Liam Livingstone for a well made 77.
Van der Dussen was dropped on 121, when Bairstow failed to hold a difficult low running catch at midwicket, overtook his previous highest one day score of 129 which he mad against India in January.
He however was bowled by a Livingstone delivery that kept low for a fantastic 134. His knock came off 117 balls with 10 fours.
England bowlers hit back in the final few overs, as South Africa ended up with a massive score of 333/5 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing 334, England openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow got England off to a fantastic start. The duo put on 102 runs for the opening stand before the former perished to a fine running catch by Miller from long off off Keshav Maharaj for 43.
Bairstow who was dropped on 51 by Lungi Ngidi at long leg, soon was trapped leg before wicket by Aiden Markram while attempting a sweep.
Markram struck again by dismissing all rounder Ben Stokes leg before wicket for 5. Skipper Buttler and Moeen Ali fell to Tabraiz Shamsi as the hosts slumped to 199/6.
Livingstone (10) then dragged at a Lungi Ngidi delivery onto his stumps.
The pair of Joe Root and Sam Curran kept England in a contest with a seventh wicket stand of 53 runs.
However Anrich Nortje dented England’s hopes by castling Joe Root for a well made 77 ball-86, and then claimed the final three wickets. as the hosts were bowled out for 271 in 46.5 overs.
For the visitors, Anrich Nortje was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/53, while Tabraiz Shamsi and Aiden Markram claimed 2 wickets each.
Rassie van der Dussen was declared the Player of the Match for his fantastic hundred.
The second one day international will be played at Old Trafford on July 22, Friday.
South Africa 333 for 5 (van der Dussen 133, Livingstone 2-29) beat England 271 (Root 86, Nortje 4-53) by 62 runs