Chasing 319 runs for the win at SuperSport Park, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and batsman Hashim Amla put on a 239 run opening partnership to set up the victory.

De Kock scored his second ton of the series for an astounding 135 run contribution for his 10th century in his 55th ODI.

Amla, who scored just five and six in the first two ODI’s, hit 13 fours and two sixes for his 127 which was also his 22nd century for South Africa in the 50 over format.

During the English innings, Joe Root was the dangerman with the willow as he scored 125 to notch up his 7th ton.

Captain AB de Villiers says he is happy with the hunger his team showed to pull one back in the series.

“I’m obviously very happy about that. We were desperate to get a result in this game and it’s hopefully a sign of good stuff to come.

"It’s exactly what we wanted, it was a good solid performance. I thought we did the basics really well to start off with the ball in hand, we had good energy in the field and also did the same with the batting.

“You can always rate the morale of a side by the way that they field.

"We showed a lot of hunger in the field, a lot of bodies were thrown around to stop the ball, it was a great attitude.

"That always shows where a team is at, even though we were 2-0 down we had a lot of hunger to win the game.”

South Africa now turn their attention to levelling the series during Friday’s Pink ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Morgan Piek/OFM News