Ton-up Roy in form but Proteas nick it

Jason Roy roared back into form with a masterful 79-ball hundred but England cricketers’ batting collapse saw South Africa snatch an unlikely victory on Jofra Archer’s international return.

Roy has had a prolonged lean run but registered his first 50-plus score in 15 international innings with 113 off 91 deliveries in the first of three ODIs against the Proteas in Bloemfontein.

He put on 146 in 19.3 overs with fellow opener Dawid Malan, who amassed 59 off 55 balls, but England badly lost their way thereafter in a chase of 299, all out for 271 in 44.2 overs to lose by 27 runs.

Below the openers, only captain Jos Buttler (36) reached 20 for the tourists on an easy-paced pitch, with Anrich Nortje claiming four for 62, while Sisanda Magala collected an important three-wicket haul.

South Africa posted 298 for seven with Rassie van der Dussen amassing 111 off 117 balls but Sam Curran checked their progress on more than one occasion to finish with figures of three for 35 off nine overs.

England had warned about expecting an explosive return, 678 largely injury-riddled days after Archer’s last international appearance, although he topped 89mph on an easy-paced pitch in Bloemfontein.

Archer believes he is at about “80%” fitness so some rust was inevitable – and he conceded 20 runs in a nine-ball over before his spell ended on a brighter note with Wayne Parnell’s wicket.

Finishing with one for 81 – the most he has conceded in a limitedovers international - will be low down the list of concerns for England, who were grateful for Sam Curran’s three for 35 from nine overs.

Jofra Archer made his international return.