Jofra Archer grabbed his best ODI figures of six for 40 to bowl England to a 59-run win over South Africa as they avoided a series whitewash.
The paceman had made his comeback from a near two-year absence from international cricket in the series opener, taking one wicket but going for 81 runs from ten overs.
He was rested for the second match but returned in Kimberley to secure England a consolation win.
The tourists had set South Africa a target of 347 and the hosts were going well after opener Reeza Hendricks smashed six sixes in his 52 before being bowled by Adil Rashid.
Archer removed Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and David Miller before returning to take the key wickets of Heinrich Klaasen (80) and Wayne Parnell (34) when the hosts were well-placed to win. Archer then bowled Tabraiz Shamsi to seal England’s victory.
Earlier, hundreds from Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler in a sensational 232-run partnership from 211 balls bailed England out of early trouble.
England had lurched to 14 for three as Lungi Ngidi snared Jason Roy, Duckett and Harry Brook on a two-paced pitch.
Malan (118 off 114 balls) and Buttler (131 off 127 balls) rebuilt slowly before peppering the shorter straight boundaries, sharing 13 of England’s 19 sixes in their 346 for seven.
Moeen Ali’s 23-ball cameo of 41 included four sixes, the first of which off spinner Shamsi came after he attempted an audacious one-handed reverse sweep.
Scoreboard
England: 346 for 7 (J C Buttler 131, D J Malan 118). South Africa: 287 all out (J C Archer 6 for 40)
England won by 59 runs
MORE : Jos Buttler ‘excited’ by Jofra Archer return ahead of South Africa v England series
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