Generally poor first day in the field for England. Both by the bowlers, who failed to get the line & length accurate & consistent, & the field, who failed to hold onto the opportunities that did present themselves.
They somewhat came back in the final session but, by then, Amla had helped himself to a ton, as had new opener (Stephen Cook at 33 years old) in a 202 partnership.
The South Africans ended the day on a satisfactory 329 for 5..
England cricketers in South Africa
England cricketers in South Africa
Another pretty poor effort by England yesterday.
Looks like the intensity they had while the tour result was in doubt has gone out of the window with the win.
SA got to 475 all out as injured returnee de Kock remained unbeaten on 129. Considering he was dropped 3 times it was a bit of a gift, but he handled the opportunity presented well enough.
To make matters worse both Hales & Compton failed again.
In Hales case it just looks like he is trying to curb his natural aggression to be a Test performer. Unfortunately the aggression is just about the main part of his game & he is only succeeding in making himself look way out of his depth.
I was interested to hear one of the commentators say that Compton seems to need to find his technique ever time he gets on the pitch. He does seem to struggle greatly early on while then looking fluent once he is in.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the pair & to Jonny Bairstow who had a very poor time behind the stumps - even if he has performed with the bat.
There seem to be thoughts around that maybe the Hales experiment is over & Compton will step into that role again. I am not sure that worked all too well last time though..
Thanks to Captain Cook & (as usual) Joe Root England ended the day on 138 for 2, with the captain on a well worked 67. A very long way to go today though - on what looks like a swiftly deteriorating pitch..
Looks like the intensity they had while the tour result was in doubt has gone out of the window with the win.
SA got to 475 all out as injured returnee de Kock remained unbeaten on 129. Considering he was dropped 3 times it was a bit of a gift, but he handled the opportunity presented well enough.
To make matters worse both Hales & Compton failed again.
In Hales case it just looks like he is trying to curb his natural aggression to be a Test performer. Unfortunately the aggression is just about the main part of his game & he is only succeeding in making himself look way out of his depth.
I was interested to hear one of the commentators say that Compton seems to need to find his technique ever time he gets on the pitch. He does seem to struggle greatly early on while then looking fluent once he is in.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the pair & to Jonny Bairstow who had a very poor time behind the stumps - even if he has performed with the bat.
There seem to be thoughts around that maybe the Hales experiment is over & Compton will step into that role again. I am not sure that worked all too well last time though..
Thanks to Captain Cook & (as usual) Joe Root England ended the day on 138 for 2, with the captain on a well worked 67. A very long way to go today though - on what looks like a swiftly deteriorating pitch..
England cricketers in South Africa
Well the English batsmen probably did as well as they could against a thrifty SA attack.
20-year-old Kabiso Rabada was the pick of the attack & took 7-112.
England got a just about par score on the track of 342 & it was down to poor play on day one & two in the field that it meant they were 130 odd runs in arrears.
Apart from probably Taylor yesterday the SA fielding side won the wickets yesterday. That England got as close was certainly due to good rear guard action by the bowling contingent with the bat. Moeen was last man out for a very well played 61 runs.
SA extended their lead to 175 by the close, for the loss of just 1 wicket. It looks like being a very difficult second innings for England..
20-year-old Kabiso Rabada was the pick of the attack & took 7-112.
England got a just about par score on the track of 342 & it was down to poor play on day one & two in the field that it meant they were 130 odd runs in arrears.
Apart from probably Taylor yesterday the SA fielding side won the wickets yesterday. That England got as close was certainly due to good rear guard action by the bowling contingent with the bat. Moeen was last man out for a very well played 61 runs.
SA extended their lead to 175 by the close, for the loss of just 1 wicket. It looks like being a very difficult second innings for England..
England cricketers in South Africa
SA progressed well enough, if at a rather sedate pace.
Then, late on, the skies opened & they decided that enough was enough & so declared.
By then they had got to 248 for 5, with former captain, Amla, top scoring with 96.
It left England with the impossible looking task of scoring 380 odd runs to win it.
As with most of the tour so far, it did not start well for the English batsmen.
18 for 3 ( with both openers & Compton gone) does not look like match winning form...
However, par for course, Root steadied the ship & Taylor stuck with him until close of play.
52 for 3 wickets at the start of the final day - needing another 330 to win it.
The odds heavily stacked in favour of SA I think, but with Root & Stokes in a side just about anything is possible..
Then, late on, the skies opened & they decided that enough was enough & so declared.
By then they had got to 248 for 5, with former captain, Amla, top scoring with 96.
It left England with the impossible looking task of scoring 380 odd runs to win it.
As with most of the tour so far, it did not start well for the English batsmen.
18 for 3 ( with both openers & Compton gone) does not look like match winning form...
However, par for course, Root steadied the ship & Taylor stuck with him until close of play.
52 for 3 wickets at the start of the final day - needing another 330 to win it.
The odds heavily stacked in favour of SA I think, but with Root & Stokes in a side just about anything is possible..
England cricketers in South Africa
Well no miracle for England in an unfortunate 'back to basics' last Test.
All out for 101 as no one put up any resistance on the final day.
Youngster Kagiso Rabada finished off a mightily impressive match with second innings figures of 6 for 32 to follow his first innings figures of 7 for 112. He certainly looks like one to watch in the future & with Morkel & a fit Dale Steyn it is a pretty impressive Test bowling line up.
That England actually won the series is really down to a couple of inspired individual performances by some of the English players rather than a team effort.
South Africa seem to be a better all round team, but also have a major issue in that no one seems willing to take on the role of captain. It certainly weighed Hashim Amla down - to the point where he hardly looked like worth his batting spot.
AB de Villiers seems equally reluctant for the role &, even in a match where his side were always in control, looked pretty inept & passive rather than dynamic in the job.
All out for 101 as no one put up any resistance on the final day.
Youngster Kagiso Rabada finished off a mightily impressive match with second innings figures of 6 for 32 to follow his first innings figures of 7 for 112. He certainly looks like one to watch in the future & with Morkel & a fit Dale Steyn it is a pretty impressive Test bowling line up.
That England actually won the series is really down to a couple of inspired individual performances by some of the English players rather than a team effort.
South Africa seem to be a better all round team, but also have a major issue in that no one seems willing to take on the role of captain. It certainly weighed Hashim Amla down - to the point where he hardly looked like worth his batting spot.
AB de Villiers seems equally reluctant for the role &, even in a match where his side were always in control, looked pretty inept & passive rather than dynamic in the job.
England cricketers in South Africa
A shame that what has generally been a good Test series for England ended in such an abject defeat. 
England appear to be no nearer finding an opening partner for Cook.I think Hales will be the latest one to be discarded and,probably,Compton will be given the poisoned chalice in the summer with Ballance returning as the number 3.
The star men for England in this series were undoubtedly Root,Stokes and Broad.Also Finn seems to have re-discovered his form which means that Anderson can be used more sparingly,more so if Wood returns fully fit in the summer.
Moeen appears to have made the spinners place his own without really convincing but he is an excellent option coming in to bat at number 8.
Bairstow had a couple of excellent knocks in the series,although his wicket keeping was a bit hit and miss but he should still keep Buttler at bay for the time being,at least.
Certainly England would have snapped your arm off for a 2-1 series win in South Africa before the Tests started.
England appear to be no nearer finding an opening partner for Cook.I think Hales will be the latest one to be discarded and,probably,Compton will be given the poisoned chalice in the summer with Ballance returning as the number 3.
The star men for England in this series were undoubtedly Root,Stokes and Broad.Also Finn seems to have re-discovered his form which means that Anderson can be used more sparingly,more so if Wood returns fully fit in the summer.
Moeen appears to have made the spinners place his own without really convincing but he is an excellent option coming in to bat at number 8.
Bairstow had a couple of excellent knocks in the series,although his wicket keeping was a bit hit and miss but he should still keep Buttler at bay for the time being,at least.
Certainly England would have snapped your arm off for a 2-1 series win in South Africa before the Tests started.
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.
England cricketers in South Africa
Englands cricketers have taken a 2-0 lead in thr ODI series against South Africa after two comfortable victories.
Star man has been Joss Buttler who smashed a century in the first match in just 76 balls,as England amassed 399-9,then hit 48 not out in just 28 balls in the second match to guide England to victory.
Alex Hales has also done well,hitting a fifty in the first match and then 99 in the second.
Sad Buttler and Hales are struggling when it comes to technique in the 5 day Test matches.
Ben Stokes also smashed 57 in 38 balls in the first ODI.....the best all rounder England have had since Botham ?? Certainly since Freddie Flintoff.
First one-day international, Bloemfontein:
England 399-9 (50 overs): Buttler 105 (76 balls), Stokes 57 (38)
South Africa 250-5 (33.3 overs): De Kock 138 not out; Moeen 3-43
England won by 39 runs (D/L method)
Second one-day international, Port Elizabeth:
South Africa 262-7 (50 overs): De Villiers 73, Topley 4-50
England 263-5 (46.2 overs): Hales 99, Butler 48*, Abbott 3-58
England won by five wickets
Star man has been Joss Buttler who smashed a century in the first match in just 76 balls,as England amassed 399-9,then hit 48 not out in just 28 balls in the second match to guide England to victory.
Alex Hales has also done well,hitting a fifty in the first match and then 99 in the second.
Sad Buttler and Hales are struggling when it comes to technique in the 5 day Test matches.
Ben Stokes also smashed 57 in 38 balls in the first ODI.....the best all rounder England have had since Botham ?? Certainly since Freddie Flintoff.
First one-day international, Bloemfontein:
England 399-9 (50 overs): Buttler 105 (76 balls), Stokes 57 (38)
South Africa 250-5 (33.3 overs): De Kock 138 not out; Moeen 3-43
England won by 39 runs (D/L method)
Second one-day international, Port Elizabeth:
South Africa 262-7 (50 overs): De Villiers 73, Topley 4-50
England 263-5 (46.2 overs): Hales 99, Butler 48*, Abbott 3-58
England won by five wickets
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.
England cricketers in South Africa
Not such good news in the 3rd ODI....
Third one-day international, Centurion:
England 318-8 (50 overs): Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53
South Africa 319-3 (46.2 overs): De Kock 135, Amla 127
South Africa won by seven wickets
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 239 for the first wicket to help South Africa beat England by seven wickets in the third one-day international.
De Kock hit four sixes in a brilliant 135 and Amla made 127 as the hosts reached their target of 319 with 22 balls to spare at Centurion.
Joe Root hit five sixes in 125 - his highest one-day international score and Ben Stokes raced to 50 in 33 balls - but England's 318-8 proved inadequate.
England lead the series 2-1 with two matches to play.
South Africa's stunning stats
The victory featured a record ODI run-chase at Centurion.
De Kock and Amla's stand of 239 is the fifth highest in South Africa's ODI history, just 17 behind their best of 256.
De Kock is the youngest player to make 10 ODI centuries - his 23 years and 54 days beating the 23 years and 129 days of India's Virat Kohli.
Amla's 22nd ODI century moves him up to equal seventh on the all-time list of one-day centurions.
De Kock made an unbeaten 138 not out in the first match of the series, and has made four hundreds in his past six ODI innings.
Third one-day international, Centurion:
England 318-8 (50 overs): Root 125, Hales 65, Stokes 53
South Africa 319-3 (46.2 overs): De Kock 135, Amla 127
South Africa won by seven wickets
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 239 for the first wicket to help South Africa beat England by seven wickets in the third one-day international.
De Kock hit four sixes in a brilliant 135 and Amla made 127 as the hosts reached their target of 319 with 22 balls to spare at Centurion.
Joe Root hit five sixes in 125 - his highest one-day international score and Ben Stokes raced to 50 in 33 balls - but England's 318-8 proved inadequate.
England lead the series 2-1 with two matches to play.
South Africa's stunning stats
The victory featured a record ODI run-chase at Centurion.De Kock and Amla's stand of 239 is the fifth highest in South Africa's ODI history, just 17 behind their best of 256.De Kock is the youngest player to make 10 ODI centuries - his 23 years and 54 days beating the 23 years and 129 days of India's Virat Kohli.Amla's 22nd ODI century moves him up to equal seventh on the all-time list of one-day centurions.De Kock made an unbeaten 138 not out in the first match of the series, and has made four hundreds in his past six ODI innings.Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.
England cricketers in South Africa
Disappointing that South Africa claim a narrow victory to level the series at 2-2 but makes for an exciting finale in Cape Town on Sunday.
Fourth one-day international, Johannesburg:
England 262 (47.5 overs): Root 109, Rabada 4-45, Tahir 3-46
South Africa 266-9 (47.2 overs): Morris 62, Behardien 38, Rashid 2-38
South Africa won by one wicket
Joe Root's eighth one-day century was in vain as South Africa beat England by one wicket to level the ODI series 2-2.
The Yorkshire batsman scored 109 off 124 balls as England recovered from 108-6 to post 262 all out.
England looked to be heading for victory when they reduced South Africa to 143-5, with AB de Villiers brilliantly run out by Chris Woakes.
But Chris Morris hit a superb 62 from 38 balls as South Africa reached the target with 16 balls to spare.
Morris was bowled with the penultimate ball of the match to set up a dramatic finish, but Imran Tahir - who had earlier starred with three wickets - hit Adil Rashid for four to seal victory.
England must now beat South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday to clinch their third win in four ODI series.
Fourth one-day international, Johannesburg:
England 262 (47.5 overs): Root 109, Rabada 4-45, Tahir 3-46
South Africa 266-9 (47.2 overs): Morris 62, Behardien 38, Rashid 2-38
South Africa won by one wicket
Joe Root's eighth one-day century was in vain as South Africa beat England by one wicket to level the ODI series 2-2.
The Yorkshire batsman scored 109 off 124 balls as England recovered from 108-6 to post 262 all out.
England looked to be heading for victory when they reduced South Africa to 143-5, with AB de Villiers brilliantly run out by Chris Woakes.
But Chris Morris hit a superb 62 from 38 balls as South Africa reached the target with 16 balls to spare.
Morris was bowled with the penultimate ball of the match to set up a dramatic finish, but Imran Tahir - who had earlier starred with three wickets - hit Adil Rashid for four to seal victory.
England must now beat South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday to clinch their third win in four ODI series.
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.
England cricketers in South Africa
Sadly,England lost the decider to lose the series 3-2....
Fifth one-day international, Cape Town:
England 236: Hales 112, Rabada 3-34
South Africa 237-5: De Villiers 101*, Topley 3-41
South Africa won by five wickets
A century from AB de Villiers gave South Africa a 3-2 one-day series win over England with a five-wicket victory in the decider in Cape Town.
Chasing 237, the Proteas were reduced to 22-3 by Reece Topley before De Villiers shared 125 with Hashim Amla.
De Villiers' 24th ODI ton, from 94 balls, got his side home in 44 overs.
Earlier, Alex Hales struck a composed 112, but he was let down by a string of poor shots from his team-mates as England were bowled out for 236.
Their third successive defeat is also a third straight loss in which one of their batsmen has made a century as England's new ultra-aggressive approach to one-day cricket ultimately proved their undoing.
South Africa's comeback from 2-0 down is only the third time that a five-match ODI series has been won from two behind.
Fifth one-day international, Cape Town:
England 236: Hales 112, Rabada 3-34
South Africa 237-5: De Villiers 101*, Topley 3-41
South Africa won by five wickets
A century from AB de Villiers gave South Africa a 3-2 one-day series win over England with a five-wicket victory in the decider in Cape Town.
Chasing 237, the Proteas were reduced to 22-3 by Reece Topley before De Villiers shared 125 with Hashim Amla.
De Villiers' 24th ODI ton, from 94 balls, got his side home in 44 overs.
Earlier, Alex Hales struck a composed 112, but he was let down by a string of poor shots from his team-mates as England were bowled out for 236.
Their third successive defeat is also a third straight loss in which one of their batsmen has made a century as England's new ultra-aggressive approach to one-day cricket ultimately proved their undoing.
South Africa's comeback from 2-0 down is only the third time that a five-match ODI series has been won from two behind.
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.