Cape Town - Led by a captain's knock of 73 from AB de Villiers, the Proteas posted a competitive 262/7 in their allotted 50 overs in the second one-day international against England in Port Elizabeth.
After De Villiers had won the toss and elected to bat, the Proteas openers started slowly, losing the wicket of Hashim Amla who was bowled by Reece Topley for 4.
Bloemfontein centurion Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis then put on 49 for the second wicket, before De Kock (22), fell leg before wicket to Stokes just as they appeared set to accelerate.
AB de Villiers joined du Plessis and the two rebuilt slowly.
Du Plessis (46) fell with the score on 98, again just as the Proteas looked to increase the scoring rate.
De Villiers was now joined by JP Duminy and the pair went about their business in positive fashion, forging a partnership of 107 for the fourth wicket before both were dismissed within two overs of each other.
De Villiers (73) was brilliantly caught by Chris Jordan off Stokes and Duminy (47) was out leg before wicket the very next over from Topley.
With 9 overs to go, South Africa had two new batsmen at the crease in Rilee Rossouw and Farhaan Behardien.
Rossouw (11) didn't last long, edging Topley behind to give the left-arm seamer his third. Behardien (23*) was left to marshall the tail where Rabada (12) and Abbot (7*) did well to help push the Proteas total out to 262.
Topley ended England's standout bowler with 4/50 in 9 overs followed by Stokes 2/54 in 9 overs.
Although they only took a single wicket between them, the spin twins of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali controlled the Proteas scoring, ending with 1/84 in their combined 20 overs.
The Proteas will be hoping the Imran Tahir and JP Duminy can do the same.
Scores
South Africa 262/7
De Villiers 73
Duminy 47
Topley 4/50