Markram and Maharaj Shine as South Africa Hammer England in 1st ODI

England faced a daunting challenge in the first ODI of their series against South Africa on September 2, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds. After losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a pitch favouring bowlers, England aimed to post a strong total in the 50-over match but quickly found themselves under pressure from South Africa’s disciplined attack.

England Innings

The England innings got off to a shaky start with openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett at the crease. Duckett, eager to make an early impact, scored just 5 runs off 8 balls before nicking a ball from Nandre Burger to wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton in the third over, leaving England at 13/1. Joe Root joined Smith to steady the ship, and the pair put on 31 runs for the second wicket.

That's some catch 👏

Root falls to Rickelton's grab 🤲

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/phUds32FZo

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 2, 2025

Root looked composed, scoring 14 runs off 17 balls with three crisp boundaries, but his stay ended in the eighth over when Lungi Ngidi tempted him into an edge to Rickelton, reducing England to 44/2. Captain Harry Brook came in to join Smith, and together they navigated the first powerplay overs from 1-10, which yielded 57 runs for the loss of two wickets. Smith played with flair, reaching a well-crafted fifty off 46 balls, including 10 fours, showcasing his ability to time the ball and find gaps.

The momentum shifted when South Africa introduced spinner Keshav Maharaj. Brook, who made 12 off 18 balls, was run out in the 14th over after a mix-up with Smith, leaving England at 82/3. This sparked a dramatic collapse. Smith’s resilient 54 off 48 balls ended in the 17th over when he was caught off Wiaan Mulder’s bowling, leaving England at 102/4. The middle order faltered against Maharaj’s spin and Mulder’s seam. Jacob Bethell, batting higher up the order, scored just 1 before edging Maharaj to Aiden Markram at slip in the 19th over. Will Jacks, known for his attacking style, made 7 off 7 balls but was undone by a sharp return catch from Maharaj in the 21st over, leaving England reeling at 117/6.

Jos Buttler, tasked with anchoring the innings, struggled to 15 off 24 balls before Mulder trapped him in front, with the ball caught by Rickelton. Mulder struck again in the same over, dismissing Jofra Archer for a duck, caught by Markram, as England slumped to 119/8. With the tail exposed, Brydon Carse (3 not out off 7 balls) and Adil Rashid (9 off 14 balls) offered brief resistance. However, Maharaj struck again in the 24th over, trapping Rashid lbw, a decision England reviewed unsuccessfully via DRS.

All out and a big job ahead of us with the ball ⚪

Match Centre: https://t.co/Vu39F9jsL5

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/vTEJNmkCDc

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 2, 2025

On the next ball, Maharaj bowled debutant Sonny Baker for a duck, wrapping up England’s innings at 131 all out in 24.3 overs. Maharaj was the standout bowler, finishing with 4/22 in 5.3 overs, supported by Mulder’s 3/33. Burger and Ngidi claimed one wicket each, while Corbin Bosch, though wicketless, kept the pressure on. England’s total was their lowest in an ODI in recent memory, with only 57 runs in the first powerplay and 74 in the second powerplay from the overs 10.1 to 40. The innings included 11 extras (6 leg byes, 1 bye, 4 wides), but Smith’s 54 was the only score above 15. England’s strike rate of 5.34 reflected their struggle against South Africa’s relentless bowling, with seven wickets falling for just 49 runs after Smith’s exit, exposing their batting vulnerabilities.

South Africa Innings

Chasing a modest 132, South Africa delivered a commanding performance, led by Aiden Markram’s explosive 86 off 55 balls. The innings began with Markram and Ryan Rickelton adopting an aggressive approach. England’s bowlers, particularly debutant Sonny Baker, struggled to contain the onslaught. Baker leaked 76 runs in seven overs without a wicket, as Markram targeted him ruthlessly, smashing 13 fours and 2 sixes. South Africa raced to 67/0 in the first powerplay, laying a solid foundation for the chase.

Defeat in Leeds.

South Africa win the series opener by 7-wickets 🏏

Match Centre: https://t.co/6abVvpHvgV pic.twitter.com/ylYeqhhfwd

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 2, 2025

Markram was in amazing form, reaching his fifty off just 23 balls with eight fours and two sixes, as South Africa passed 50 runs in 5.2 overs. The opening partnership with Rickelton added 121 runs in 18.1 overs, with Rickelton playing a supporting role, scoring an unbeaten 31 off 59 balls at a strike rate of 52.54. England’s bowlers were unable to stem the flow of runs, with Baker’s economy rate of 10.85 proving particularly costly. Jofra Archer bowled tightly, conceding just 8 runs in five overs and taking one wicket, but he couldn’t break the opening stand early.

The breakthrough finally came in the 19th over when Adil Rashid had Markram caught by Jamie Smith for 86, ending his dominant knock. South Africa reached 100 runs in 15.3 overs, largely due to Markram’s aggression. Rashid struck twice more in the 21st over, dismissing Temba Bavuma for 6 off 9 balls, caught by Will Jacks, and bowling Tristan Stubbs for a duck with a sharp googly. With South Africa at 131/3, needing just one run, Dewald Brevis sealed the victory with a six off Rashid, finishing not out on 6 off 2 balls.

South Africa completed the chase in 20.5 overs at a run rate of 6.57, with Rashid’s 3/26 in 3.5 overs being England’s only notable bowling effort. The second powerplay from the overs 10.1 to 40, saw 70 runs added for three wickets, but the match ended well before the 40-over mark. The innings included 8 extras (3 leg byes, 1 no-ball, 4 wides), and South Africa’s batting depth meant players like Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj didn’t need to bat.

A heavy Headingley defeat.
The tourists go 1-0 up in the series.
Full #ENGvSA match highlights 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 2, 2025

Markram’s 156.36 strike rate and Rickelton’s steady presence ensured a comfortable chase, and it showed South Africa’s dominance. The seven-wicket victory, with 175 balls to spare, gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Their clinical batting and bowling performance left England outplayed, setting the stage for an intriguing second match.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Under the bright Leeds sun, debutant Sonny Baker endured a challenging introduction to international cricket. Opening the bowling for England, Baker struggled against South Africa’s aggressive batsmen, particularly Aiden Markram. His seven overs cost 76 runs without a wicket, with an economy rate of 10.85.

A debut to forget for Sonny Baker 😞 pic.twitter.com/A0hL0PqFz7

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 2, 2025

Markram’s blistering 86 off 55 balls, including 12 fours and 2 sixes, exposed Baker’s inexperience, as South Africa chased 132 with ease, reaching 137/3 in 20.5 overs and Despite Baker’s tough day, Adil Rashid shone for England, taking 3/26, but South Africa’s momentum, driven by Markram’s brilliance and Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 31, proved unstoppable.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Keshav Maharaj earned TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his exceptional bowling performance. The South African spinner delivered a masterclass, taking 4 wickets for 22 runs in 5.3 overs at an economy rate of 4.00. Maharaj dismantled England’s batting, restricting them to 131 in 24.3 overs.

Keshav Maharaj, proving why he’s the world’s No. 1 in ODIs! 🌟

A brilliant, match-winning spell of 4/22 that showcased his class and earned him Player of the Match honours. 🇿🇦🔥 #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/42w36nHEEo

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 2, 2025

His key dismissals included Jacob Bethell (1) and Will Jacks (7), both caught, before trapping Adil Rashid lbw for 9 and bowling Sonny Baker for a duck to end the innings and with 19 dot balls and just two boundaries conceded, Maharaj’s control was unmatched, supported by Wiaan Mulder (3/33) and single wickets from Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi. His spin wizardry turned the match decisively in South Africa’s favour.