The England vs South Africa 3rd ODI highlights gave cricket fans a bit of everything, including dazzling centuries, express pace, and a record-breaking margin of victory that’s already gone down in the history books. While the series was technically wrapped up by South Africa beforehand, England reminded everyone that when they click, they really do it in style.
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England vs South Africa 3rd ODI Highlights
Put into bat, England wasted no time in making a statement. After a steady opening, Jamie Smith looked fluent once again, hitting a breezy 62, before Jacob Bethell and Joe Root took control. What followed was 30 overs of pure, polished mayhem.
What a moment 👏
What a talent 🙌
A dream come true 🥹@IGCom | 🏴 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/9NkEMQ4dNd— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2025
Jacob Bethell’s maiden century came off just 76 balls, an innings full of clean strokes, confidence, and a healthy dose of youthful swagger. Root, ever the cool customer, added his own hundred (his 19th in ODIs), quietly rotating the strike and letting Bethell shine. Together, they put on a mammoth 182-run stand.
And just when South Africa thought it might slow down, Jos Buttler turned up. His 62 not out off just 32 balls included scoops, ramps, and straight sixes, the full T20 menu, as England rocketed to 414 for 5, their highest ODI total at home since 2018.
Then we turned to South Africa. Chasing 415 was always going to be steep, but South Africa didn’t even get close. In fact, they collapsed in dramatic fashion. Jofra Archer, back to full fitness and full venom, bowled a breathtaking opening spell. He took four wickets in his first seven overs, conceding just 10 runs. Markram nicked off early, Rickelton and Breetzke followed in quick succession, and Stubbs was caught in the slips to leave South Africa at a sorry 24 for 6. The crowd loved it. So did Jofra, who finished with 4 for 18.
Wicket in the first over! 🔥
Archer nicks off Markram with the second ball of the innings 🤩 pic.twitter.com/iegW6B8wS5
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2025
Brydon Carse and Adil Rashid mopped up the rest, and South Africa were all out for 72 in just 20.5 overs. England’s bowlers didn’t just dominate; they humiliated.
Star Performers
Jacob Bethell
Let’s start with the young man of the moment: Jacob Bethell’s maiden century wasn’t just stylish; it was significant. At just 21, he became the second-youngest Englishman to score an ODI ton. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Critics had questioned his place in the squad after a quiet summer and a couple of low scores. On Sunday, he answered them all, and then some.
There it is! 😍
Jacob Bethell’s maiden international hundred 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PbuZHZ7MQ5
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2025
Bethell wasn’t handed an easy ride either. South Africa’s best bowler, Keshav Maharaj, targeted him early, but Bethell went after the spinner with intent, even hitting three straight sixes. He was dropped once on 44, a costly miss, but otherwise looked entirely in control.
The Utilita Bowl stands for Joe Root 🫡
Another glorious ton for the 🐐👏 pic.twitter.com/p8nEe63Opr
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2025
Joe Root
Root, meanwhile, played the perfect support role. Not flashy, just classic Root. He nudged, glanced, and gently dismantled the field, finishing with a 95-ball 100 that barely broke a sweat.
Just absolute 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2hcAAKx9mN
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2025
Jofra Archer
And then there’s Jofra Archer. After years of stop-start cricket due to injuries, Archer reminded us just how dangerous he can be. His spell up front, fiery, accurate, and fast (topping 93mph) effectively ended South Africa’s innings before it even began. It’s safe to say England fans will be thrilled to see that glint in his eye again.
Records Tumble：The Highest Winning Margin in ODI
This wasn’t just a big win. It was the biggest. England’s 342-run hammering of South Africa now stands as the highest winning margin in ODI history, a title previously held by India (317 runs vs Sri Lanka in 2023). Yes, England vs South Africa 3rd ODI highlights now include a world record.
England’s epic win over South Africa in Southampton goes down in the history books 📖
Read More 👉 https://t.co/S1aH17oc0J pic.twitter.com/zyIdMTTtcW
— ICC (@ICC) September 7, 2025
South Africa, on the other hand, suffered their second-worst ever ODI collapse and looked a shadow of the side that had dominated the earlier matches. Their 72 all out was their fourth-lowest total in ODIs and their innings lasted barely 21 overs. To make matters worse, their fielding was sloppy, their bowlers wild (they gave away 27 extras, including 19 wides), and the dropped catches, especially the sitter that gave Jacob Bethell’s maiden century a second life, made it look like a team already halfway on the plane home. Despite the series loss, England can take huge pride in this performance. The highest winning margin in ODI cricket isn’t just a stat, it’s a statement!
Related Match：ENG vs SA 2025 3rd ODI – Can England hold their ground in the final ODI?
Final Thoughts：A Dead Rubber? Hardly.
On paper, this was a “dead rubber.” In reality, it was anything but. From the moment Jacob Bethell’s maiden century lit up Southampton, to the moment South Africa’s last wicket fell in the gloom under the floodlights, England produced a complete, clinical, and utterly entertaining performance.
Yes, South Africa had already taken the series 2–0. But on this day, England played like champions. They batted as a unit, bowled with bite, fielded with intent, and broke a record while doing it. The England vs South Africa 3rd ODI highlights aren’t just about a consolation win; they’re about a young team reminding the world what they’re capable of.
And for fans? Well, it was a glorious Sunday to remember. One for the scrapbook, and surely one that will live long in the memory as the day England delivered the highest winning margin in ODI history with a swagger, a smile, and a century from a star just getting started.
