Rassie van der Dussen scored a classy century as SA secured a 62-run victory in sweltering heat in the first ODI to spoil England all-rounder Ben Stokes’ farewell party at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.
After electing to bat, the tourists amassed 333 for five in their 50 overs, boosted by a career-best 134 from Van der Dussen as he put on 151 with Aiden Markram .
It was not the send-off Stokes would have wanted on his retirement from ODIs, returning bowling figures of 0-44 in five overs and scoring just five with the bat at what is his home county venue. While Van der Dussen and Markram looked to accumulate runs rather than chase boundaries, spinner Liam Livingston removed both batsmen within three balls as he found some grip on the surface. Opener Janneman Malan also scored a neat 57 for the tourists.