Putting up a shambolic display of batting, England were dismissed in 147 balls for their fourth-lowest total against South Africa in the ODI opener at Headingly, Leeds. The whole fixture lasted just 272 balls, as Aiden Markram scored the fastest fifty by a South African opener, off 23 balls, and dominated an opening partnership worth 121 with Ryan Rickelton to take South Africa home and open the series with a thumping win.
Jamie Smith, the lone warrior in England’s innings, made a composed 54 off 47 balls even as wickets tumbled at the other end. He had accounted for more than 50% of the team’s runs by the time he was dismissed with 102 runs on the board. The lower order could only add 29 more as Keshav Maharaj (4-22) and Wiaan Mulder (3-33) dovetailed to plot England’s downfall.
The 131 they managed was also the second-lowest total for England at Headingley in the format, only behind 93 all-out against Australia in the 1975 World Cup. South Africa romped home in reply with Markram looking like a million dollars at the batting crease. The opener reached his half-ton in a mere 23 balls – a country record in the format against England.
That is some catch from Jamie Smith! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/qRCQgYHImp
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 2, 2025
South Africa knocked off 67 runs in the PowerPlay alone. At one point Markram was well on course for a century, but the wily old fox that is Adil Rashid sent him packing 14 short of the coveted landmark while South Africa required only a dozen runs to go past the finish line. Rashid picked up two more consolation wickets – that of Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs – off consecutive deliveries when the scores were levelled. The wunderkind Dewald Brevis, however, polished off the chase with a maximum after surviving the hat-trick ball, as the Proteas overhauled the target in under 21 overs to take a 1-0 lead.
Brief scores: England 131 all out in 24.3 overs (Jamie Smith 54; Keshav Maharaj 4-22, Wiaan Mulder 3-33) lost to South Africa 137/3 in 20.5 overs (Aiden Markram 86; Adil Rashid 3-26) by 7 wickets at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds
