Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott had plenty to celebrate as England’s one-day series finally got underway at the second attempt in Centurion, and the pair duly set about doing so in style. England’s most experienced one-day cricketer joined forces with one of the country’s newest recruits to produce a brace of allround performances that smothered South Africa’s ambitions on a sluggish rain-affected track, and guided their side to an improbably comprehensive seven-wicket victory with four overs to spare.

In the end it was a cakewalk – as comprehensive in its own way as South Africa’s 84-run pummelling on this same ground in the second Twenty20 last week. Chasing a meagre target of 251 (which was only nine runs more than England had been set in that game in 30 fewer overs) Collingwood and Trott came together in the 12th over with England teetering a touch on 45 for 2, but thereafter they scarcely blinked. A third-wicket stand of 162 in 30 overs put the result beyond doubt long before Trott ended their alliance by flicking Charl Langveldt to deep midwicket for 87.

It was a disappointing end for Trott (and he showed his frustration by bashing his pad with his bat as he left the pitch) but, like Kevin Pietersen five years ago, his first 50-over match against his former countrymen was a triumph nonetheless. He opened the innings in place of Joe Denly and Alastair Cook, who was ruled out before the start with a back strain, and anchored the chase with an unflustered 119-ball innings. Mickey Arthur’s vocal criticism of his selection was clearly not without purpose – South Africa’s coach recognised him as a threat, but there was nothing that he or his bowlers could do to rattle Trott’s resolve.

The main man of England’s day, however, was their newly confirmed record-holder. Collingwood has now played in 171 ODIs – one more than England’s stalwart of yesteryear, Alec Stewart – and rarely can he have featured so prominently in so many facets of a contest. His day began with a stunning two-handed pounce in the gully to intercept an AB de Villiers cut, and it was crowned with a drive through mid-on to bring up his fifth ODI century. But in between whiles, it was Collingwood’s canny spell of medium-pace – 6-0-24-2 – that really stymied South Africa’s momentum, and transformed a challenging target of 280-plus into an eminently obtainable one.

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