A second successive One-Day International century from Jos Buttler and fifties from Alex Hales, Ben Stokes and Joe Root guided England to an emphatic 39-run Duckworth Lewis victory in their first match against South Africa.
Despite not being picked throughout the 2-1 Test series victory, Buttler seemed in fine form, racing to a 73-ball century as England posted 399-9.
South Africa then threatened to match England’s efforts, Quinton de Kock posting an unbeaten 138* before rain stopped play, England going 1-0 in the five-match series ahead of the second ODI on Saturday.
England began the day on the back of a prosperous 2015 in one-day cricket, winning all five of their T20 internationals and ODI series against New Zealand and Pakistan.
The explosive opening partnership of Jason Roy and Hales remained and added 68 in the first 7.4 overs, the former making 48 off just 30 balls before Morne Morkel dismissed him.
Hales continued the good work of his opening partner, moving to a 47-ball 57 before Marchant de Lange removed the Outlaws right-hander, caught by AB de Villiers for 57.
Buttler, much like he was in his record 46-ball century against Pakistan in November, was promoted to number four in the order and immediately made an impact.
With Joe Root playing the supporting role at the other end, Buttler went about flaying the South African attack to all parts of Bloemfontein.
Together the pair added 97 inside 12.2 overs for the tourists before Root fell for 52, England reaching the 30-over mark on 227-3.
Buttler found further support in England captain Eoin Morgan, 23 from 21 balls, before the wicketkeeper took centre stage.
With the 25-year-old already holding the fastest three ODI centuries for England, his 73-ball effort proving to be the slowest out of his four hundreds in the format.
He eventually fell for 105 before cameos from Stokes (57), Moeen Ali (19) and Chris Jordan (14), lifted England to 399-9, the tourists’ seventh score of 350 plus in ODIs.
England once again smashed new records in the one-day arena, with 399 proving the best total at the ground whilst another milestone was set with the top eight all smashing at least one maximum.
The tourists went in to the second innings full of confidence but South Africa, keen to bounce back from their Test series loss, began their innings at a quick pace.
Despite losing Hashim Amla with the score on 11, Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis were quick to take the attack to the English bowlers.
Ali thought he had du Plessis LBW on 50 before the decision was overturned on review before Hales caught the same batsman on the boundary after he had added only five further runs.
With rain seemingly around de Villiers and de Kock upped the scoring rate even further, before Stokes pulled off a blinder of a catch at deep mid on to remove the South African captain for just eight.
De Kock remain unmoved and offered stubborn resistance before heavy and sustained rain ended the hosts’ chances of securing what would have been their second highest ODI run chase.
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.