Rassie van der Dussen's century was the cornerstone of South Africa's imposing 333-5 as the Proteas threatened to spoil England star Ben Stokes's farewell to one-day international cricket on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Van der Dussen made a career-best 133 and shared a partnership of 151 with Aiden Markram (77) after putting on 109 with opener Janneman Malan (57).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa's total might have been greater had not both Markram and van der Dussen fallen in the same over from spinner Liam Livingstone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Markram, who faced just 61 balls and struck nine fours, holed out in the deep to Jonny Bairstow and, two balls later, a tired van der Dussen, was bowled trying to muscle a slower ball that kept low.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dynamic all-rounder Stokes announced on Monday that Tuesday's game at his Durham home ground in Chester-le-Street would be his 105th and last ODI, with the now Test captain saying the demands of a congested fixture schedule made it impossible for him to give of his best across all three international formats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Tough spell for Stokes -
\r\nStokes led the team on to the field but an expensive bowling return of 0-44 in five overs left his loyal fans in the northeast hoping to witness some batting heroics from the player of the match in England's 2019 World Cup final triumph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England made three changes to the side that lost the third ODI, and with it a three-match series, against India at Old Trafford on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They gave a debut to seam bowler Matthew Potts with Adil Rashid, who missed the India series while on the Hajj pilrgrimmage, and Sam Curran returning in place of the in-form Reece Topley, David Willey and Craig Overton.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But on a day of 37-degree heat and soaring temperatures amind a national heatwave, Durham quick Potts, who made an impressive Test bow against New Zealand last month, bowled just four overs out of a maximum 10 before leaving the field.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An England spokesman later confirmed Potts had been feeling the effects of the heat but would bat if required.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South Africa stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj, leading the side in place of the injured Temba Bavuma, won the toss and decided to bat first.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Quinton de Kock was bowled early on by Curran before Malan and van der Dussen took charge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Malan was first of the pair to reach fifty, off 63 balls, before van der Dussen got there in just 45 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The second-wicket duo were eventually separated when Malan chipped off-spinner Moeen Ali to deep midwicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Van der Dussen kept going and a leg-glanced boundary off Curran saw him to a 90-ball hundred including nine fours. It was the 33-year-old's third century in 36 ODIs and first against England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n