Jacob Bethell slammed a maiden professional hundred before Jofra Archer shredded South Africa’s top order as England recorded the largest win by runs in men’s one-day international history and avoided a 3-0 series defeat.

South Africa were torpedoed for 72 chasing a mammoth 415 in Southampton as England triumphed by 342 runs to eclipse the 317-run hammering India had inflicted on Sri Lanka in 2023.

Bethell (110 off 82 balls) reached three figures from 76 deliveries and shared a 182-run stand with Joe Root (100 off 96) for England’s third wicket in an innings of 414-5 – Jos Buttler (62no off 32) and Jamie Smith (62 off 48) also starring at the Utilita Bowl.

England only required nine wickets with visiting Temba Bavuma not batting due to a calf strain, and Adil Rashid (3-13) bagged the final scalp after Archer’s brilliance with the new ball.

South Africa plummeted to 24-6 inside 10 overs with Archer (4-18) responsible for four of those wickets during a scintillating spell, starting when he nicked off Aiden Markram (0) second ball.

Archer’s line was immaculate as Ryan Rickelton (1) snicked behind, while the England quick then surprised Matthew Breetzke (4) with a bouncer to ensure the Proteas batter would not notch a sixth-consecutive fifty-plus score in the format.

Tristan Stubbs (10) was Archer’s next victim, in the final over of the powerplay, when he picked out second slip, while Brydon Carse inflicted a duck on Wiaan Mulder and had Dewald Brevis (6) caught at slip in a remarkable passage of play.

Home fans will just be wondering where this complete performance was earlier in the series after the hosts were trounced by seven wickets in the opening game in Leeds – when they were bowled out for 131 – and then edged out by five runs in the second at Lord’s.