Ton-up De Kock leads from the front as South Africa thump England

New ODI captain Quinton de Kock struck a century, as South Africa beat England by seven wickets in Tuesday's first ODI at PPC Newlands in Cape Town.

Chasing a 259-run target, the Proteas climbed to 259 for three with 14 deliveries to spare. The result afforded the hosts an early lead in the three-match series.

De Kock was well supported by batsman Temba Bavuma, who perished for 98 late in the piece. The pair shared a dominant 173-run alliance, which was particularly important after the relatively early fall of opener Reeza Hendricks.

Bavuma and de Kock methodically dismantled an opposition attack awkwardly reliant on legspinners Joe Denly and Matt Parkinson. Seamer Tom Curran struggled to continue the fine form enjoyed for the Sydney Sixers in Australia's Big Bash recently, while the decision to give left-armer Sam Curran the new ball alongside fast bowler Chris Woakes was questionable. De Kock and Bavuma's individual and collective shot selection and stroke play, indeed, capped a batting spectacle for the Proteas.

"It was a good night. It feels good to get back to winning ways," said De Kock.

"We had one or two chats about how we want to take this ODI team forward. Today was a good start –- but it's only one game."

MILESTONE FOR DE KOCK

The left-handed De Kock's 107 from 113 deliveries featured 11 fours and one six - and marked the 15th century of a prolific ODI career. He also surpassed 5 000 ODI runs on Tuesday. He is the 11th South African to achieve the milestone, after the retired Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jonty Rhodes, Hansie Cronje and JP Duminy. De Kock's predecessor, Faf du Plessis is the only player on the list still active in ODI cricket, but has been rested for this series.

Earlier, England climbed to a final total of 258 for eight. De Kock's decision to bowl first after winning the toss reaped early reward, as the tourists slipped to 108 for five inside 22 overs. A bowling attack minus the rested Kagiso Rabada appreciated impressive performances from wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and debutant Jon-Jon Smuts.

Left-arm spinner Smuts was deployed as a first-change bowler - and had the dangerous Jason Roy hole out to long-on fielder Reeza Hendricks. Fellow opener Jonny Bairstow perished relatively soon thereafter, miscuing seamer allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo's deceptive pace to mid-off fielder Lutho Sipamla.

Sipamla, like Smuts, was on ODI debut. The young fast bowler entered the attack as late as fourth change, but proved ineffective and went without a wicket on a slow pitch. A late return, though, saw Sipamla end half-centurion Denly and allrounder Chris Woakes' rearguard alliance of 91 for the seventh wicket.

Shamsi exploited the conditions superbly, welcoming the second-best figures of a punctuated ODI career. Tuesday's three for 38 are only bettered by the four for 33 he took against Sri Lanka in Dambulla two years ago. This latest haul comprised the key dismissals of opposition captain Eoin Morgan, the left-handed Curran and debutant Tom Banton. All three are limited-overs stars - and will play in the Indian Premier League later this year.

EXCELLENT FIELDING

The experienced Joe Root, meanwhile, was the victim of an excellent run-out from point fielder Rassie van der Dussen. He put in a diving stop and a direct-hit at the far end of the pitch to get rid of Root.

"We were way off the mark," admitted England captain Eoin Morgan. "South Africa completely outplayed us in every department."

"Every batsman apart from Joe Denly and Chris Woakes struggled to get on," said Morgan. "South Africa bowled well, they bowled accurately and used the conditions with slower balls. (Then) the partnership between De Kock and Bavuma we couldn't penetrate."

De Kock was exemplary in rotating the bowlers. His nifty rotation was especially key after new-ball bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Beuran Hendricks were unable to initiate breakthroughs.

The enterprising Denly hit the only sixes of England's innings en route to an ODI career-best 87, surpassing the 67 collected against Ireland in Belfast more than 10 years ago. Both sixes were struck off the bowling of Ngidi.

"We understood it was pretty difficult to hit boundaries," said De Kock. "It was a matter of finding a way to get momentum and we understood that running hard between the wickets was the way to go about it."

FORTRESS NEWLANDS

South Africa and England have now contested 61 ODIs since the first in 1992. The former have won 30 and the latter 27, with one tie and three no-results.

England have never beaten South Africa in an ODI at Newlands. They did, however, beat Pakistan at this venue during the 2003 World Cup. South Africa's last 20 ODIs at Newlands have yielded 16 victories.

England are the reigning World Cup champions and occupy first position in the International Cricket Council's rankings for ODI teams.

Kingsmead in Durban will host the second ODI on Friday. The third will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock(capt & wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi

ENGLAND: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Denly, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Matthew Parkinson