England are hoping for a vastly improved performance as they aim to hit back against South Africa in their three-match one-day international (ODI) series.
The hosts were thoroughly beaten in the opening ODI at Headingley as South Africa romped home by seven wickets, England collapsing in a heap with the bat before debutant Sonny Baker endured a bruising start to his international career with the ball. Commencing just two days after the end of The Hundred and not long after a gruelling Test series against India, Harry Brook’s side perhaps looked a little underprepared for the start of a series against a South Africa side most certainly on the up.
For Temba Bavuma’s men, this game at Lord’s mark a return to the scene of their World Test Championship final triumph from earlier in the summer. Aiden Markram, who anchored that success with a magnificent fourth-innings hundred, was in a rather more brutal mood at Leeds while Keshav Maharaj tied England in knots, setting up a shot at sealing the series with a game to spare. Could rain threaten to spoil the day, though?
Follow all of the latest from the second ODI with our live blog below:
England vs South Africa live
- England face South Africa at Lord's in the second of three ODIs | Live on Sky Sports
- Hosts were thrashed in the first ODI after a dreadful batting collapse
- England win the toss and choose to bowl under cloudy skies in London
- Team news: England replace Baker with Mahmood as South Africa make two changes
- Matthew Breetzke scores his fifth half century in five one-day internationals
- Tristian Stubbs brings up his 50 as South Africa turn the screw on England
- Wicket! Stubbs furious with teammate Brevis after being run out on 58 (South Africa 259-5)
- South Africa set England big total of 331 to win second ODI
England 7-1 (Root 4, Duckett 1)
17:48 , Chris WilsonOver 2
Ngidi is next up with the ball, with Duckett to face. The Englishman lands a run off first ball, with a wide given on the third.
Root lands the first four of the day for England as the ball is a little short and he guides it through midwicket.
England 1-1 (Root 0, Duckett 0)
17:43 , Chris WilsonOver 1
Root is in now and he misses an attempted pull shot, before the only run of the over comes from a wide.
WICKET! England 0-1 (Smith c Rickelton b Burger 0)
17:39 , Chris WilsonA wicket from the first ball!
A great opening ball from Burger and Smith nicks it inside edge, with Rickelton diving to take the catch behind!
Nightmare start for the hosts.
Archer takes four wickets for 62 runs
17:29 , Lawrence OstlereThe last ball of the innings:
Archer has four wickets! 👏 pic.twitter.com/pEHM6fYupt
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 4, 2025
South Africa innings
17:24 , Lawrence OstlereMarkram 49 (64)
Rickelton 35 (33)
Bavuma 4 (7)
Breetzke 85 (77)
Stubbs 58 (62)
Brevis 42 (20)
Bosch 32* (29)
Muthusamy 7 (6)
Maharaj 1 (2)
Extras 17
Total 330-8
Rashid England's stand-out bowler
17:21 , Lawrence OstlereAdil Rashid was excellent as ever, recording figures of 2-33 off his 10 overs. The part-time spinners meanwhile had a really tough time: Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell combined for 1-112 off their 10 overs.
Perhaps in hindsight a seam all-rounder would have helped balance the English attack.
Wicket! Keshav Maharaj b Archer 1 (South Africa 330-8)
17:07 , Lawrence OstlereKeshav Maharaj gets down on one knee and tries to scoop the final ball, which he misses, and it clatters the stumps.
No matter: it’s advantage South Africa, who set England 331 to win this second ODI and keep the three-match series alive.
It would be a record run chase at Lord’s in this format.
Wicket! Senuran Muthusamy lbw b Archer 7 (South Africa 326-7 )
17:03 , Lawrence OstlereJofra Archer bowls the final over and immediately removes Muthusamy – who should have reviewed it, because it hit his pad outside the line of off stump. An odd decision not to review in the final over, I must say.
South Africa 326-6 (Bosch 29, Muthusamy 7)
17:00 , Lawrence OstlereOver 49
Mahmood’s final over looked like being a good one, stemming the flow a little, until Bosch top edged a four over Jos Buttler’s head.
The over ends in odd circumstances as Mahmood launches a full toss into Bosch’s hip. He appeals and then reviews, but it was always missing the stumps and that was an odd decision by England.
South Africa 319-6 (Bosch 24, Muthusamy 6)
16:54 , Lawrence OstlereOver 48
Bosch hits nine runs off the over and keeps the strike.
South Africa 310-6 (Bosch 15, Muthusamy 6)
16:50 , Lawrence OstlereOver 47
Bosch adds a few more runs to the tally off the bowling of Mahmood.
Will Jacks is coming back into the attack for one last over.
South Africa 303-6 (Bosch 8, Muthusamy 5)
16:46 , Lawrence OstlereOver 46
Senuran Muthusamy is the next man in, and he’s quickly off the mark.
Wicket! Dewald Brevis c Rashid b Bethell 42 (South Africa 297-6)
16:43 , Lawrence OstlereBrevis tries to cut Jacob Bethell away through the off side and slices it into the hands of Rashid at backward point. How England needed that.
South Africa 295-5 (Bosch 8, Brevis 40)
16:41 , Lawrence OstlereOver 45
Good from Rashid in his final over. He ends with two wickets and one maiden for 33 runs off his 10 overs.
South Africa 291-5 (Bosch 6, Brevis 38)
16:37 , Lawrence OstlereOver 44
Brevis ends the Carse over with another huge six, slashed over mid-wicket.
South Africa 278-5 (Bosch 2, Brevis 29)
16:33 , Lawrence OstlereOver 43
Corbin Bosch is the new man in, and he’s quickly off the mark against Bethell, before Brevis smashes a six back over the bowler’s head and into the pavilion. He follows it with a massive six on the sweep!
Wicket! Stubbs run out Archer 58 (South Africa 259-5)
16:28 , Lawrence OstlereMadness in the middle! Brevis and Stubbs get themselves in a pickle and it’s an easy run out for England, as Archer collects the ball from his fielder and nudges off the bails with Stubbs stranded. He is fuming with his young partner, who went and then stopped and then went and then stopped again.
South Africa 257-4 (Stubbs 57, Brevis 11)
16:24 , Lawrence OstlereOver 41
A messy over from Jacob Bethell, who bowls three wides and concedes 17 runs in all. Can’t help feel England have got the balance of the side wrong, relying so much on part-time spinners Bethell and Jacks on a track that isn’t exactly ripping.
Another exciting young South African batter, Dewald Brevis, is quickly up and running.
Wicket! Matthew Breetzke lbw b Archer 85 (South Africa 240-4)
16:16 , Lawrence OstlereJofra Archer delivers a perfect yorker and Matthew Breetzke is finally gone, after a hopeful review comes to nothing. England desparately needed that, although the damage has been done.
South Africa 232-3 (Breetzke 83, Stubbs 50)
16:08 , Lawrence OstlereOver 39
Breetzke takes it to Carse, thrashing a six over deep square leg’s head, immediately after a four slapped back over the bowler’s head.
Stubbs flicks it through the leg side for his half century, the third ODI 50 of his career.
South Africa 213-3 (Breetzke 66, Stubbs 49)
16:05 , Lawrence OstlereOver 38
Another tight over by Rashid, who goes for only three.
South Africa 210-3 (Breetzke 64, Stubbs 48)
16:01 , Lawrence OstlereOver 37
Jacks is back into the attack and Stubbs unleashes, sweeping a four, hitting an enormous six to bring up the 200, and then sweeping for four more. Ruthless.
South Africa 193-3 (Breetzke 63, Stubbs 33)
15:56 , Lawrence OstlereOver 36
A good over by Carse, but South Africa are in control of this game right now and England need another breakthrough.
South Africa 190-3 (Breetzke 63, Stubbs 30)
15:53 , Lawrence OstlereOver 35
A half chance passes by for England as Breetzke slaps Rashid through extra cover and it just evades a diving Bethell.
South Africa 185-3 (Breetzke 60, Stubbs 28)
15:49 , Lawrence OstlereOver 34
A huge six by Breetzke, hitting Jacks back over his head and all the way to the rope. South Africa takes 15 runs off the over.
South Africa 170-3 (Breetzke 50, Stubbs 26)
15:45 , Lawrence OstlereOver 33
Matthew Breetzke has his fifth half century in five one-day internationals! No cricketer has ever done that before. Astonishing start to his ODI career.
South Africa 163-3 (Breetzke 47, Stubbs 22)
15:38 , Lawrence OstlereOver 32
Six off the over as Jacks continues from the Nursery End.
That’s drinks.
South Africa 157-3 (Breetzke 45, Stubbs 18)
15:33 , Lawrence OstlereOver 31
Here’s something you don’t see every day: Breetzke lets go of his bat while blocking one back down the track and it nearly flips over his head and on to the stumps! Bizarre, given he wasn’t trying to smash the ball out of the ground, but he gets away with it. Mahmood offers a wry grin.
A couple of balls later, a thick edge races past Buttler for four, with no slip in place to stop it.
South Africa 150-3 (Breetzke 41, Stubbs 16)
15:28 , Lawrence OstlereOver 30
Will Jacks comes into the attack and concedes just a few singles.
South Africa 146-3 (Breetzke 39, Stubbs 14)
15:25 , Lawrence OstlereOver 29
A consistent length by Mahmood keeps things tight, until a lovely cut through backward point for four by Breetzke.
South Africa 138-3 (Breetzke 34, Stubbs 12)
15:20 , Lawrence OstlereOver 28
South Africa add four singles to the tally off Rashid. At the Pavilion End, it looks like Bethell is being pulled out of the attack for Mahmood.
South Africa 134-3 (Breetzke 32, Stubbs 10)
15:16 , Lawrence OstlereOver 27
Breetzke sweeps Bethell for four, then crashes him high over extra cover for six! It’s an expensive over as South Africa attack the part-timer.
South Africa 120-3 (Breetzke 19, Stubbs 9)
15:13 , Lawrence OstlereOver 26
No wicket! The umpire’s finger goes up but Breetzke is quick to review and replays show why – he never touched it.
A brilliant maiden by Adil Rashid, though, whose googly twice bamboozles Breetzke but misses the stumps.
South Africa 120-3 (Breetzke 19, Stubbs 9)
15:08 , Lawrence OstlereOver 25
Harry Brook throws Jacob Bethell the ball, who becomes England’s fifth bowler of the innings. Breetzke sweeps for four amid a few singles, and that’s seven off the over.
South Africa on 120 at the halfway point.
South Africa 113-3 (Breetzke 13, Stubbs 8)
15:03 , Lawrence OstlereOver 24
A few more singles off Carse, but neither of these batters have quite got into their stride yet.
South Africa 109-3 (Breetzke 11, Stubbs 7)
15:00 , Lawrence OstlereOver 23
Rashid concedes a few singles as South Africa keep the scoreboard ticking.
South Africa 105-3 (Breetzke 9, Stubbs 4)
14:57 , Lawrence OstlereOver 22
Carse offers a wide, bouncy delivery which Breetzke takes on and carves away through cover for four, to bring up South Africa’s 100. Eight off the over.
South Africa 105-3 (Breetzke 9, Stubbs 4)
14:56 , Lawrence OstlereOver 22
Carse offers a wide, bouncy delivery which Breetzke takes on and carves away through cover for four, to bring up South Africa’s 100. Eight off the over.
South Africa 97-3 (Breetzke 4, Stubbs 2)
14:52 , Lawrence OstlereOver 21
Rashid has totally changed the momentum of the game in these middle overs, not just with wickets but in the way he’s increased scoreboard pressure with his tight, testing line on the stumps.
South Africa 95-3 (Breetzke 3, Stubbs 1)
14:49 , Lawrence OstlereOver 20
Tristan Stubbs is the next man in, and Brydon Carse takes over from Archer at the Nursery End. A tight over sees Carse go for just a couple of singles.
Wicket! Aiden Markram c & b Rashid 49 (South Africa 93-3)
14:45 , Lawrence OstlereRashid puts on the pressure with a lovely ball which goes through the gate and misses the stumps but sends Markram tumbling to the floor. And the very next ball he’s gone, chipping one back down the ground and into the hands of the bowler, who shifts his weight quickly to take the catch.
Markram falls one short of what would have been a well-earned 50.
South Africa 87-2 (Markram 44, Breetzke 1)
14:40 , Lawrence OstlereOver 18
Breetzke nudges Archer to the off side to get off the mark.
South Africa 84-2 (Markram 42, Breetzke 0)
14:37 , Lawrence OstlereOver 17
Another excellent over by Rashid from the Pavilion End, conceding only one.
South Africa 83-2 (Markram 41, Breetzke 0)
14:35 , Lawrence OstlereOver 16
Markram hits a four fine down the leg side off Archer and adds a single before the over’s out.
South Africa 78-2 (Markram 36, Breetzke 0)
14:29 , Lawrence OstlereOver 15
The teams take drinks a few balls early after that wicket. Matthew Breetzke is the new man in.
Wicket! Temba Bavuma c †Buttler b Rashid 4 (South Africa 78-2)
14:27 , Lawrence OstlereAdil Rashid comes into the attack and immediately gets the wicket of Bavuma! The ball pitches middle and leg before turning and taking the edge on the way through to Buttler’s gloves.
South Africa 74-1 (Markram 35, Bavuma 1)
14:22 , Lawrence OstlereOver 14
Finally, England have a wicket on the card.
Temba Bavuma is the new man in, and he fends off the rest of the over before pinching a single.
Wicket! Ryan Rickelton c †Buttler b Archer 35 (South Africa 73-1)
14:17 , Lawrence OstlereRickelton swings at the first ball of Archer’s new over and top edges high, high it into the clouds. Jos Buttler shuffles to his right and holds out his gloves to take the simple catch.
South Africa 73-0 (Markram 35, Rickelton 35)
14:15 , Lawrence OstlereOver 13
Better from Brydon Carse, who beats the edge of Rickelton’s bat a couple of times, but England are still searching for a breakthrough.
South Africa 71-0 (Markram 34, Rickelton 34)
14:12 , Lawrence OstlereOver 12
A hat-trick of fours by Markram from the bowling of Archer! The first is through the covers, the second flicked fine off the pads down to the pavilion, and then powerfully cut square for a third.
He almost hits a fourth but Brook races to the rope and flicks the ball away just in time.
That’s 16 conceded off the over. Eesh.
South Africa 55-0 (Markram 19, Rickelton 33)
14:07 , Lawrence OstlereOver 11
The powerplay is over, but the South Africans keep the scoreboard ticking over with a series of singles off Carse’s bowling.
South Africa 51-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 31)
14:04 , Lawrence OstlereOver 10
Mahmood continues from the Nursery End and Rickelton hits the first ball of the over for a fine off-drive for four.
The left-hander then plays a lovely front-foot shot which beats Harry Brook at mid-off and runs for four more, to bring up the 50 partnership.
South Africa 43-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 23)
14:00 , Chris WilsonOver 9
Rickelton adds four more straight away, driving Carse's opening ball straight down the ground. He follows it up with a quick single through mid-wicket.
Archer takes a shot at finding stumps and hits them, although the ricochet directs the ball past the fielders and for a four in over-throws!
A five there for Rickelton, and Archer can only laugh.
South Africa 34-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 14)
13:56 , Chris WilsonOver 8
Much better from England. Mahmood is now 0-11 from four overs after Markram and Rickelton fail to land a run in the eighth.
The first maiden of the match as Mahmood hits Markram’s thigh pad, before forcing the batter to hack at one delivery and leave another alone.
South Africa 34-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 14)
13:51 , Chris WilsonOver 7
Brydon Carse is the first bowling change made by Brook.
Not the best start though, as his first delivery is flicked over mid-wicket for four.
Only four runs for the over though, and Carse improves and then causes Rickleton a problem with the final ball, which is sloping away from the opener.
South Africa 30-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 10)
13:47 , Chris WilsonOver 6
Just one run from the next over and Mahmood has started promisingly here, conceding just one run in this one.
He’s been the bat of Rickleton again and hits Markram low on the pads with the final ball, though England decide not to review.
Markram was lucky earlier on too, having seen his edge drop short of a fielder.
Rickleton with the only run of the over.
South Africa 29-0 (Markram 17, Rickelton 9)
13:42 , Chris WilsonA better over for South Africa, this one. It includes the first six of the day too, as Markram steps back to hit a short ball over square leg.
Three from Rickelton after he guides a single to mid-on, and a mixed bag for Archer overall.
South Africa – and Markram in particular – look to have settled well at the home of cricket.
South Africa 19-0 (Markram 11, Rickelton 6)
13:38 , Chris WilsonAn encouraging over from Mahmood, having beaten Markram’s bat a couple of times.
Just three runs from that over as Markram hits for the boundary but Carse is there to prevent this one.
19-0 for the tourists to begin.
REVIEW LOST
13:36 , Chris WilsonDRS shows the ball hitting the pads but sliding down leg, so England lose the review.
REVIEW!
13:35 , Chris WilsonMahmood earns a review as he traps Markram on the pads...
South Africa 16-0 (Markram 9, Rickelton 6)
13:31 , Chris WilsonA mistake from Smith as he chases Markram’s shot to the boundary but sees his dive carry the ball over for four! A firs boundary for the opener.
Three more runs from the over, as Markram finds another on the final ball and the pair push for three.
South Africa 9-0 (Markram 2, Rickelton 6)
13:26 , Chris WilsonMahmood to take his first over of the day now, with Markra once again facing.
Another single for the South Africa opener puts Rickelton on strike, with the latter pushing two after striking through midwicket.
He then finds the first boundary of the day as he guides a shot past point.
South Africa 2-0 (Markram 1, Rickelton 0)
13:20 , Chris WilsonJofra Archer with ball in hand to start the day...
The first few looking to test Markram, with plenty of movement, and no runs off the opening three.
An extra conceded off fourth, before the in-form Markram turns one behind square for his first runs of the day.
Brook: 'The series starts here for us'
13:12 , Chris WilsonIn his pre-match interview, Harry Brook says that England “are going to have a bowl. We hope there's going to be a little bit in it to start with and that we can make the most of that”.
"We need to put [Tuesday] behind us, it's a new day today and the series starts here for us,” he adds.
Moments way from getting started at Lord’s then!
Broad defends Baker after chastening debut
13:10 , Chris WilsonOn Sky, Stuart Broad has defended Sonny Baker after the debutant was hit for 76 runs for his seven overs last time out.
"It was a tough experience. I think it's always difficult when you're trying to defend a low total.
"England didn't bat very well and so South Africa came out with a lot of freedom - and you feel under pressure to take wickets.
"It means that you're not just settling in to your first ODI and into length, you're thinking, 'I've got to break open this game'.
"I don't think it was a true reflection on Baker's ability,” he adds.
Morgan: 'Now is not the time to increase the risk of injury'
13:05 , Chris WilsonSpeaking to Sky Sports, former England captain Eoin morgan says that “playing two ODIs in such a short space of time was certainly a consideration when I was captain, in terms of how the bowlers pull up”.
“England are only playing three seamers, and so you cannot afford to play anyone in their second game in three days if they are carrying any potential niggle or stiffness.
“Now is not the time where Brendon McCullum or Harry Brook want guys to increase the risk of injury.
“The second consideration will be Lord’s, with different conditions to any other ground in the country,” he adds.
Atherton warns England have been 'caught cold'
13:00 , Lawrence OstlereMichael Atherton was another former England Test captain not impressed with England’s showing at Headingley.
"England, without question, have been caught cold," he told Sky Sports. "South Africa look like a side who have been together playing serious international cricket.
"England's players have been through a month of The Hundred - the eliminator and finals were this weekend - so they arrived in dribs and drabs to Headingley. They've had no chance for preparation, they're playing a completely different format - and it showed.”
Team news: Mahmood replaces Baker
13:00 , Lawrence OstlereEngland make one change from the game at Headingley, as pace bowler Saqib Mahmood replaces Sonny Baker, who is pulled out of the line of fire after such a torrid debut.
South Africa makes two changes: Matthew Breetzke replaces the injured Tony de Zorzi, and Senuran Muthusamy comes in for Wiaan Mulder, who is unwell.
England vs South Africa schedule
12:55 , Chris WilsonWith that delay, here’s a reminder of the September schedule for the various fixtures between England and South Africa:
First ODI: South Africa won by seven wickets - Headingley
Second ODI: Today - Lord’s
Third ODI: Sunday 7 September (11am) - Utilita Bowl, Southampton
First T20: Wednesday 10 September (6.30pm) - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Second T20: Friday 12 September (6.30pm) - Emirates Old Trafford
Third T20: Sunday 14 September (2.30pm) - Trent Bridge
Start delayed due to earlier rain
12:50 , Chris WilsonThe coin toss was pushed back to 12.45pm, so the start has been delayed by the same amount of time.
We should be underway around 1.15pm in that case.
England win the toss!
12:46 , Chris WilsonBrook flips the coin and England win the toss! Harry Brook chooses to bowl first, which is probably not a surprise given England’s fortunes last time out.
Vaughan: England are putting too much pressure on Bethell
12:38 , Lawrence Ostlere"He's going to be a fine player for England. My problem is he's been put on this pedestal, of almost greatness, without playing cricket and scoring runs," the former Ashes-winning skipper told BBC's Test Match Special.
"That selection in the last Test against India I thought was quite baffling, to throw a young player in. Then they've given him the T20 captaincy: more pressure. I don't think you need to give Jacob any more pressure.
"Let him play cricket, let him find that flow and form. If you think he's a leader now, he'll be a leader in two or three years. Don't put that kind of pressure and expectation on him yet."
Vaughan: England are putting too much pressure on Bethell
12:35 , Lawrence OstlereMichael Vaughan is concerned by England's handling of Jacob Bethell, stressing the risk of stifling his development with too much "pressure and expectation".
The highly-rated 21-year-old lasted just two deliveries at Headingley, nicking Keshav Maharaj to slip via deflection off the wicketkeeper and struggled in his previous international outing in the final Test of the India series.
Pitched into the side on the back of just one first-class appearance all season, the Warwickshire player was dismissed for six and five and looked understandably short of rhythm.
Despite that, England have entrusted him with extra responsibility by naming his as captain for the T20 series in Ireland later this month - the youngest man ever to do the job.
And Vaughan worries that the fast-track promotion could hamper his progress.
Brook explains Baker decision
12:26 , Lawrence OstlereBrook oversaw a difficult welcome for Sonny Baker, who saw his first seven overs in international cricket swatted for 76 - the most expensive return by an England debutant in ODIs.
He could have been withdrawn much sooner and spared more pain, but Brook was keen to give the 22-year-old every chance to settle amid a brutal attack from Aiden Markram (86 off 55 balls).
"I was just trying to get him a wicket, to be honest. He got a little bit of tap there, but he just kept on coming and coming and coming," he explained.
"He hasn't had the greatest of days, but the energy he brought and the desire to just keep on hammering away was awesome to see. He might have missed his execution the odd time, but Markram played some unbelievably good shots in there as well, so hat's off to him," said Brook.
"He's had a tough one but the way that he just kept on cracking on and digging deep to try and get wickets there for us was awesome to see, and that's exactly what we ask of every bowler."
Brook admits defeat was 'not good enough'
12:10 , Lawrence OstlereHarry Brook watched England serve up the worst performance of his brief captaincy reign as they were hammered at Headingley and admitted: "Nobody wants to come and watch that".
Brook won all six matches against the West Indies as he kicked off his tenure in style earlier this summer, but he made no attempt so sugarcoat the scale of his first defeat.
"It's not good enough. I can't say much more than we've just had a bad day," he said.
"Obviously, you want to keep on winning and winning, don't you? But we've mis-executed a lot of our skills today. Nobody wants to come and watch that.
"You can take a little bits and bobs from it, but you just got to get rid of these games, I'm afraid. We've got to put it behind us as quickly as possible and move on to the next match."
Recap – South Africa hammer England in first ODI
11:57 , Lawrence OstlereSouth Africa were racing certainties to win at the changeover and batted like they knew it.
Baker shipped 14 from the first over, Markram welcoming him to the stage with three boundaries in four deliveries.
He followed with two sixes at the newcomer's next visit as the runs flowed, with England's travails continuing at the other end.
Jofra Archer thought he had Rickelton for a duck, only for Root's low slip catch to be ruled out, then Brook failed to review a legitimate lbw appeal off the next ball.
Almost immediately, the game was over as a contest. After seeing two overs go for 34, Brook persevered with Baker, who improved slightly but lost the battle comprehensively as Markram greedily piled up 86.
Smith gave the Yorkshire faithful something to cheer when he removed him with a wonderful catch at cover.
Rashid added Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs with just one run needed and Dewald Brevis ended things with a big blow for six.
Recap – South Africa hammer England in first ODI
11:44 , Lawrence OstlereSent in to bat, England started on a positive note as Smith laced the fifth ball of the day for the first of his 10 boundaries.
Things soon took a turn for the worse, though, and rarely looked like recovering.
Ben Duckett fell in the third over, nicking a defensive push behind, before Joe Root edged Lungi Ngidi through to Ryan Rickelton, who held on one-handed at the second attempt.
Smith was scoring busily enough to take the total to a respectable 82 for two in the 14th over, but he could not do it alone.
Brook slapped his first ball to the ropes but was run out for 12 chasing a non-existent second run and, when Smith was well caught by Corbin Bosch after flicking Wiaan Mulder to fine-leg, the collapse accelerated.
They lost seven wickets for 29, with Keshav Maharaj helping himself to four for 22. There was no lavish spin on offer for the left-armer, but he still coaxed errors from Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Rashid and Baker.
Recap – South Africa hammer England in first ODI
11:33 , Lawrence OstlereThere are obvious mitigating factors, most pertinently a chaotic preparation period caused by the tight turnaround between the end of The Hundred and the start of the series.
The squad only came together in full on Monday evening, with their solitary pre-match training session severely depleted as those involved in Sunday's Lord's final travelled north while their team-mates netted.
But even against that backdrop this was an incoherent display from a side who have earned their modest world ranking of eight in recent times.
Recap – South Africa hammer England in first ODI
11:25 , Lawrence OstlereThe 22-year-old Baker had already been dismissed for a golden duck at number 11, wrapping up England's limp batting effort, when he was handed the new ball and asked to make an impression on a game that had already gone.
Instead he was mauled by Aiden Markram and served up seven wicketless overs for 76 - the most expensive ODI analysis by an England debutant.
Baker has earned his spot with some bright performances in both the Rothesay County Championship and The Hundred but will need plenty of character to bounce back from a start like this.
He was not alone in struggling, though. Smith and Adil Rashid were the only players to earn a passing grade, the latter taking all three of England's wickets in a lost cause.
Recap – South Africa hammer England in first ODI
11:11 , Lawrence OstlereHarry Brook's winning streak as England's white-ball captain came to a shuddering halt against South Africa, with Sonny Baker's painful debut summing up a torrid display in the first one-day international on Tuesday.
Brook kicked off his limited-overs reign with six consecutive wins over the West Indies earlier this summer, but the honeymoon ended decisively after his side were thoroughly outclassed in a seven-wicket thrashing at his home ground of Headingley.
The hosts were bowled out for 131 in a mere 24.3 overs - just under half their allocation - with Jamie Smith's 54 sticking out like a sore thumb amid a host of failures.
That was never likely to be enough to contain the Proteas, who raced home with 175 balls to spare in an assault that took Baker as collateral damage.
England v South Africa – second ODI at Lord's
11:06 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome along to live coverage of England v South Africa from Lord’s, as the teams meet for the second of three one-day internationals. England were absolutely walloped at Headingley on Tuesdsay – so will they bounce back?
