SEAMERS Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell wreaked early havoc to set the platform for an easy South African victory in the third and final one-day cricket global against England at Lord's on Monday.
Tottering at 20-6 inside the first five overs, England crumbled against Rabada (4-39) and Parnell (3-43) in a performance that lasted only 31.1 overs.
A big cheer rippled round the ground when Jonny Bairstow stoutly defended the next ball and he and David Willey set about trying to resurrect England's innings, the former beautifully driving Rabada through the covers, the latter lucky to edge one to the fence through fourth slip.
Although Stokes is expected to be fit for England's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on Thursday, the problem is bound to cause concerns about his workload, given his importance in balancing the one-day side.
Maharaj endured three of the dropped catches off his bowling, Stokes badly put down first by Hashim Amla at slip - the ball going straight through the fielder's legs for four - and then by De Kock next ball. I's just when he's bowling at full tilt. "There was a bit in the wicket in the first 10 overs and a bit of a bounce, which bodes well for the Champions Trophy".
With pride at stake, South Africa took on England in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) at Lord's. But it wasn't enough as Mark Wood prevented them from scoring the four runs needed off the final delivery. Coach Trevor Bayliss said that Bairstow could force his way in come the Champions Trophy, telling Sky Sports: "He's doing everything he possibly can do".
A mini-implosion followed, as Amla was bowled off the inside edge by Toby Roland-Jones and Jake Ball bowled De Kock for 34. Australia's warm-up match against Pakistan only lasted a handful of overs and South Africa A again were only able to bat half an innings in their second warm-up match against Derbyshire.
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South Africa begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Saturday. "The stats show there's something in it for the first 15 overs", said de Villiers at the toss.
Opener Jason Roy, who has reached double figures just once in his past five global innings, was the first to fall as he edged Rabada to slip - and England's top order followed suit.
Kagiso Rabada yorked Jason Roy in the fifth over with a delivery timed at 149.8 km/h, and 10 overs later England were 80/3. It was the start of a brilliant over that yielded three wickets in five balls for Rabada.
Next ball, England's 20 for five became 20 for six when Adil Rashid, even more recklessly, attempted a huge drive and edged to du Plessis for a golden duck.
The all-rounder then equalled his career-best 101, hitting 11 fours and three sixes from 79 balls.
Stokes finally fell in the 44th over when he holed out in the deep to give debutante left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (1-72) his lone wicket.
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