@Keshav Maharaj celebrating after taking Bethal's wicket vs England at Leeds
On September 2, 2025 South Africa would score an impressive victory against England, winning the first of three match-series in an ODI at Headingley, Leeds by seven wickets. The Proteas under the leadership of Temba Bavuma demonstrated their clinical skills with both ball and bat and outshone a disjointed England team that was incapable of finding a rhythm after an intensive domestic season. This was a very short (only 272 balls) match, but it demonstrated the supremacy of South Africa and predetermined the course of the series, with visitors winning it 1-0. The following is a description of the game, a discussion of the highlight performances and decisive moments, and an overview of the situation.
Match Overview:
The South Africa team won the toss and chose to bowl first, which turned out to be an inspired move because their bowlers destroyed the England batting line. England themselves hit their lowest ODI score against South Africa with only 131 runs in 24.3 overs. Their pursuit by the Proteas was equally decisive, as they hit 137 for 3 in only 20.5 overs, with 175 balls to spare--their greatest margin of victory in terms of balls remaining in an away ODI against England. The best performances of Aiden Markram (86 off 55 balls) and Keshav Maharaj (4 for 22) won the latter the Player of the Match award.
England’s Batting Collapse:
England started off well in their innings, with the opening batsman Jamie Smith attacking the bowling, hitting back-to-back boundaries off Nandre Burger in the first over. Smith only made a contribution of 54 out of 48 balls, ten of these being fours, to the entire English total. The remainder of the batting order however, failed to withstand a disciplined South African assault. Ben Duckett (9) was fired early to Lungi Ngidi, and Joe Root (14) and captain Harry Brook (12) were cheaply sent back on their own ground of Yorkshire, unable to muscle the innings.
The middle order failed in the most dramatic way, with seven wickets down in 29 runs, on a total of 43 balls. A sharp slip catch by Aiden Markram caught Jacob Bethell (1) off guard after Keshav Maharaj bowled accurately and with guile. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler was the only Englander to get 15, until Wiaan Mulder was caught by Ryan Rickelton at the stumps. Mulder set about it once more in the same over, getting rid of Jofra Archer with a duck, and England was in a bad way at 102 for 7. When Maharaj wrapped up the tail Adil Rashid was lbw and Sonny Baker, making his ODI debut, was clean-bowled, with figures of 4 for 22--his best in ODIs. Maharaj had his 33 filled in by Wiaan Mulder, but the fieldwork of South Africa was spotless, as the country caught all the seven catches they had.
The 131 scored by England was their third lowest ODI score at Headingley and their poorest score since the 1975 world cup where they scored only 93 against Australia. It was said that it collapsed due to lack of preparation because England entered the series with no recent 50-over cricket, having gone straight out of the Hundred franchise competition. South Africa, whose team was still in a state of elation following a 2-1 series victory in Australia, took advantage of the tiredness and disunity of England.
Dominating Chase in South Africa:
In pursuit of a modest 132, South African openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton were early in establishing the mood. Markram was playing in sparkling form and he hit 14 runs off the first over of Sonny Baker in international cricket. And his aggressive purpose persisted until he hit a 23-ball fifty the fastest by an opener in ODIs, in South African history, breaking a nine-year-old record. Markram scored 86 off 55 balls with eight fours and two sixes and dominated the 121-run opening score with Rickelton who scored a more conservative 31 off 44 balls.
Bowlers in England could scarcely keep Markram down, and Baker, in making his debut, had a miserable time, with a total of 7-0-76-0--the most costly performance of an England bowler in a single match on debut. Jofra Archer was bowling neatly (3-1-5-0) with no success and Adil Rashid gave the team some late sliver of hope. Markram was caught at cover by Jamie Smith on 86 by Rashid when South Africa only required 11 runs. Temba Bavuma (2) and Tristan Stubbs (0) followed soon after and Rashid bowled a googly that sent Stubbs back, leaving him on a hat-trick. But then Deewald Brevis capped the win in style, smashing a straight six off Rashid to remain unbeaten with 6, as South Africa made 137/3 in 20.5 overs.
Key Performances:
Keshav Maharaj (South Africa): the spinner, left-arm, was the man behind England’s fall and he took advantage of the clouds and a pitch that gave slightly. The 4 that he took of 22 were the important wickets of Buttler, Jacks, Rashid, and Baker. This was essential as Maharaj was able to change his pace and flight, which won him the Player of the Match award.
Aiden Markram (South Africa): Markram started the chase with an 86 that can only be described as both aggressive and controlled. His 50 with 23 balls was a statement of mission and demonstrated how South Africa is fearless under coach Shukri Conrad.
Wiaan Mulder (South Africa): When Buttler and Archer were both dismissed in successive deliveries, Mulder had hit a 3 for 33 that repeated several times and proved to be the key to breaking England. His all-round nature was a boost to his added importance to the ODI set-up.
Jamie Smith (England): Smith had been the only bright spot in an otherwise wretched England batting display, with 54. His violent beginning gave him momentary relief, but he was not aided b the rest of the line-up
Tactical Insights:
To bowl first was a little genius on the part of South Africa, because their attack of pace, headed by Ngidi, Burger and Mulder, when the weather was overcast, seized the advantage of the early movement. This spin by Maharaj was the best foil which kept the pressure going during the middle overs. The fielding of the Proteas was clinical, an improvement over that of the series in Australia, with Markram slip catching and Rickelton wicketkeeping.
England with Harry Brook as captain was seen to be unprepared and tactically unsophisticated. Their move to continue working with Baker.