The Proteas had won the last three ODIs played at the Wanderers, which were all played in pink, and continued with that trend on Friday as they leveled the five-match series 2-2.
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It was a masterclass in seizing the initiative, with South Africa having looked second favourites for much of the chase.
Hashim Amla and De Villiers put on 125 and despite losing another two wickets were always comfortable as they hauled in England’s target with six overs to spare.
Indeed, no team has ever chased more than a modest 257 to win an ODI at Cape Town and the tourists, after being asked to bat first, were perhaps guilty of setting their sights too high on a pitch that showed regular signs of uneven bounce.
Unfortunately that stroke was a hint of things to come from England. “We have to find a way to get the momentum going on the day”.
“The players in the team are naturally attacking-style players and if that comes off more times than not, well then the team’s going to score more runs and take a lot of wickets”.
At this venue known as the Bullring because of its intimidating atmosphere, however, England could not quite hold their nerve.
South Africa were wearing all pink rather than their accustomed green and yellow to help raise money for breast-cancer charities and awareness.
Reece Topley (three for 41) took two wickets in two balls to briefly revive England hopes, but South Africa were guided by the brilliance of De Villiers, who finished on 101 from 97 balls to seal his 24th ODI century.
Eoin Morgan tried to kickstart his innings with a big shot, but managed only an outside edge behind on the charge at Wiese – for his third successive single-figure score.
Jason Roy was pinned lbw on the back foot by a Tahir leg-break and South Africa then immediately returned to seam at both ends with a plan for Root.
It did not stay there for long, though, because Morris made England pay with a maiden ODI 50 and a display of sustained hitting for four sixes and three fours from 38 balls in a stand of 52 – to which Kyle Abbott contributed just an unbeaten three.
But Rabada returned, and changed the match with two big wickets in as many legitimate balls.
An attempted paddle-scoop at Morris did for him, caught at short fine leg in the 45th over.
England had eked out only a competitive total.
David Wiese is expected to get an extended run ahead of Morne Morkel, given the latter has not been picked for the T20 series or the World Cup next month.
De Kock also played on, to Stokes, and Du Plessis closed the face on a Woakes outswinger and lost his off stump. “Hopefully the guys will learn from the experience of playing against someone like De Villiers and the way he went about his innings today”.
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Morris, however, had other ideas.
