England versus South Africa: Jacob Bethell touches the first century before Jofra Archer walks through Proteas

Jacob Bethell scored his long-awaited first professional century before Jofra Archer tore through South Africa when England hit the Proteas through a record 342 runs in the third one-day international in Southampton.

With the series disappeared, the 21-year-old Bethell, long before a huge future despite his lean experience of the province, all his promise where by elegant 110 of 82 balls in the cruise of England to 414-5.

The left-handed put 182 with Joe Root, who stroked a 96-ball 100 himself, to lay a platform before Jos Butler took the scoring with a destructive 62 not from 32 balls.

It was the highest total of England in ODIs for three years and their best effort at home since 2018, while Bethell’s Ton, in his 33rd International Innings, made him the second-year-old Odi Centurion of England after David Goower.

South Africa was far below the standards in their impressive victories in Headingley and Lords who had already protected the series with a game.

They dropped Bethell on 44, gave 19 width away and were 72-9 in 20.5 overs when the players shake hands with Temba Bavuma who could not hit – the winning margin of England the biggest in the history of men’s ODIs in terms of runs.

Archer took four wickets in a fast and hostile new ball spell, which reduced the proteas to 7-4 and 24-6 of which they never recovered. He finished 4-18 and Adil Rashid 3-13.

Although the series was already gone, this was a moral reinforcement for England after a difficult run in the 50-over format.

The same parties now play a T20 series of three games from Wednesday in Cardiff.