ENG vs SA (Source: @ProteasMenCSA/X.com)
It turned out to be an absolutely one-sided game at Headingley in Leeds, where South Africa dominated England, winning comfortably by seven wickets in the first ODI. On the back of Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram's magnificent efforts, the South African team steamrolled the home side, who were left completely shell-shocked in the series opener.
Here, we take a look at the highlights of the first ODI between England and South Africa, as it panned out at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday, September 2.
Maharaj, Mulder Share 7 Wickets As England Knocked Over For 131
The visiting South African side won the toss and put England into bat. The English side lost their first wicket, Ben Duckett, in the third over when they only had 13 runs on the board, while Joe Root could only manage 14, with skipper Harry Brook getting run out for 12.
The wickets kept falling one after the other, with only Jamie Smith standing out with a 54-run knock off 48 deliveries that included 10 boundaries. From 102 for 3, England were bowled out for just 131 as Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder caused a batting collapse, losing their last seven wickets for just 29 runs.
Maharaj picked up four wickets for just 22 runs in his 5.3 overs, while Mulder got 3 for 33 in his seven. The English batters had no answer to the Proteas bowlers, as Maharaj proved too tough for the middle order, who looked uncomfortable against the left-armer's typical length.
Mulder got crucial wickets in the middle with his right-arm pace as the England batters gave up the fight too soon, getting knocked out for 131 in just 24.3 overs.
Aiden Markram's Blitz Takes South Africa To Dominant Victory
In chasing 132 for victory, the South African side hardly lost a sweat. They made the English bowlers look in agony, courtesy of opener Aiden Markram, who scored a blistering 86 off 55 deliveries with 13 boundaries, alongside two sixes at a strike rate of 156.36.
Markram was very well supported by his opening partner and wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, who scored 31* off 59 deliveries, helping South Africa score at a higher run rate. Runs started flowing off the bats of both these openers as English bowlers had no answer to their batting class.
Markram particularly kept the run rate high, hitting boundaries all around without worrying too much. However, after taking the Proteas closer to victory, Markram lost his wicket on 86 when the visiting side had 121 runs on the board after 18.1 overs, falling to Adil Rashid as he was caught by Jamie Smith.
With 11 runs required for victory, skipper Temba Bavuma walked in and was expected to finish the job, which, unfortunately, he couldn't. After scoring just six, he too became a victim of Rashid, who dismissed him, leaving South Africa needing only one run.
Now, with 131 for 2 after 20.2 overs, in walked Tristan Stubbs, who, on his very first delivery against Rashid, tried a reverse sweep but missed it completely, as it crashed onto his stumps, as South Africa lost three wickets in quick succession.
Rashid was on a hat-trick, and in walked in-form Dewald Brevis, who carefully watched out the first delivery and then smacked Rashid down the ground for a handsome six, taking the Rainbow nation to victory by seven wickets as they chased down 132 in 20.5 overs at Leeds, while going up 1-0 in the three-match ODI series.
Apart from Rashid, no other bowler could gather a wicket, where the leg-spinner registered figures of 3/26 in 3.5 overs. In comparison, debutant Sonny Baker conceded 76 runs in his seven overs without any success. Whereas Jofra Archer was highly economical, giving just eight runs in his five-over spell.
From the batting perspective, Markram was absolutely brilliant, while Rickleton provided him much-needed support, scoring 31 not out as South Africa raced to a rather easy victory.
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