England set South Africa a target of 312 to win
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England struggled to make the most of a great batting surface but still achieved a decent total of 311 for 8 in their fifty overs.
The Proteas, who won the toss, struck second ball to leave tournament hosts and favourites England one for one, reports BSS.
But Jason Roy (54) and Test skipper Joe Root (51) repaired the damage with a second wicket stand of 106.
England, ideally, would have wanted one of the well-set duo to go on but instead they both fell soon after completing their fifties as South Africa took two wickets for four runs in four balls to leave the home side 111 for three in the 20th over.
Roy flat-batted an intended pull off seamer Andile Phelukwayo to South Africa captain Faf du Plessis at mid-off before Root failed to get over a ball from fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and was well caught by JP Duminy at backward point.
Earlier, South Africa made a sensational start when Du Plessis’s decision to go against convention by giving the first over to a spinner was rewarded when leg-break bowler Imran Tahir had opener Jonny Bairstow caught behind for a golden duck with just the second ball of the match.
Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan then rebuilt the innings with a blend of conservative accumulation and occasional hitting.
With the death overs approaching and Morgan and Stokes well set Tahir was brought back into the attack and he struck removing the England skipper. Morgan looked to go aerial but didn’t get enough of it and was caught in the deep for 57.
Jos Buttler struggled to get going and would chop an Ngidi slower ball on to stall England’s death onslaught.
Despite losing more partners in Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes, Stokes carried England beyond the 300 run mark in the penultimate over.
Stokes (89) fell off the final ball of the 49th over playing a reverse pull off Ngidi that backfired as he picked out Phehlukwayo at short fine leg.
A boundary and some scrambled runs allowed England to take 11 off the final over and set the Proteas 312 runs to win.