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Maharaj, Markram and Mulder crush England in seven-wicket rout

football02 September 2025 16:22| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj spearheaded an outstanding bowling and fielding display by South Africa which saw England capitulate to an embarrassing total of 131 all out before Aiden Markram scythed his way to an extraordinary 86 from just 55 balls to lead the visitors to an overwhelming seven-wicket victory in their one-day international at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday afternoon.

The pair shared seven wickets with Mulder claiming 3-33 in just seven overs while left-arm spinner Maharaj grabbed the last two wickets to finish with a remarkable 4-22 in only 5.3 overs.

Markram smashed debutant fast bowler, Sonny Baker, for 34 runs in his first two overs with the new ball before opening partner Ryan Rickelton had scored a single run and the pace barely relented with Baker finishing with the chastening figures of 7-0-76-0 in stark contrast to the seasoned Jofra Archer whose five overs cost just eight runs.

Responding to coach Shukri Conrad’s appeal to “show off a bit more” Markram produced his full array of strokes on both sides of the wicket producing 13 fours and two sixes before driving legspinner Adil Rashid to cover within sight of the most unlikely century, given the size of the target.

Rickelton, in contrast, struggled for rhythm and timing but, with no pressure, was happy to simply bat until the end finishing on 31 from 59 balls while captain Temba Bavuma (6) and Tristan Stubbs (0) were dismissed with the scores level.

The game concluded in the 21st over with only 45.2 of the scheduled 100 required to complete the match.

REMARKABLE CATCH

Mulder had England’s top-scorer Jamie Smith brilliantly caught at long leg by Corbin Bosch for a counter-attacking 54 from just 48 balls before snaffling two wickets with consecutive deliveries in his sixth over to finish with 3-33.

Nandre Burger (1-28) began England’s demise with a fine away-swinger to have opener Ben Duckett (5) caught by ‘keeper Ryan Rickelton and Lungi Ngidi (1-20) dismissed Joe Root (14) in similar fashion although it required a remarkable catch by Rickelton who dived far to his right but still needed a second grab as the ball squirmed from his glove as he landed.

Captain Harry Brook (12) was run out by a powerful throw from Tristan Stubbs from the cover boundary after a wretched mix-up with Smith but at 102-3 with Smith and former captain Jos Buttler at the crease hopes of consolidation remained strong.

Instead, the home side lost their last seven wickets for just 29 runs in just 6.5 overs starting with Smith’s mistake against Mulder.

Buttler’s stuttering innings of 15 ended with an inside edge against Mulder to Rickelton, Jacob Bethell (1) edged Maharaj to Markram at slip before Will Jacks (7) pushed a tame return catch to the bowler.

Maharaj trapped Adil Rashid lbw and bowled last man and debutant, Sonny Baker, first ball to end the innings after just 24.3 overs.

South Africa had never won an ODI in five attempts at the venue but corrected that record in emphatic fashion.

The three-match series concludes with the second match at Lord’s on Thursday and the third at Southampton’s Rose Bowl on Sunday.

ENGLAND: Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wkt), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.

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