Markram Blazes SA Trail to 1-0 After Maharaj, Mulder Trip Up England : 1st ODI Match Report & Stats
Aiden Markram started with a bang, smashing drives over the covers as South Africa chased down England’s modest total in the 1st ODI at Headingley on September 2, 2025.
Score: England 131 all out (Jamie Smith 54, Harry Brook 28; Keshav Maharaj 4-22, Wiaan Mulder 3-33) lost to South Africa 137/3 (Aiden Markram 86, Ryan Rickelton 49; Sonny Baker 0-76) by 7 wickets
Player Of The Match: Keshav Maharaj, SA
England’s Batting Woes
England looked in the game early. Jamie Smith tried to hold the innings together with a patient 54-run knock, and Ben Duckett managed some quick boundaries. But after the initial overs, loose drives and soft edges piled pressure. Joe Root played a few elegant shots but was trapped by Maharaj’s spin.
Harry Brook tried to attack but misjudged Mulder’s length and was run out attempting an ill-timed second run. Jos Buttler injured his hamstring while saving a boundary and had to leave the field, missing both batting and fielding duties.
Maharaj and Mulder Shine
Once the wickets started tumbling, Keshav Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder dominated. Maharaj spun his magic with 4 for 22, troubling England’s batters with clever variations. Mulder’s seam bowling picked up 3 wickets for 33, keeping the run rate under control and building pressure.
England’s middle order collapsed quickly: Jacob Bethell edged a floated Maharaj delivery to Markram at slip, Will Jacks popped a simple return to Maharaj, and Jofra Archer was caught low at first slip. England lost seven wickets for 29 runs in 43 balls, turning a modest score into a collapse.
Debutant Sonny Baker had a nightmare debut, conceding 56 runs in 4 overs without a wicket, as Markram and Rickelton punished every loose delivery.
Markram and Rickelton Take Charge
South Africa’s innings shifted the momentum immediately. Markram attacked from the first ball, hitting elegant drives and powerful sixes. Ryan Rickelton offered support, building a 121-run opening partnership that left England chasing shadows.
Markram reached his fifty in just 23 balls, the fastest fifty by a South African opener in ODIs. Baker’s short and wide deliveries were no match for him. Even when Rickelton initially struggled, he managed to rotate the strike and hit key boundaries to keep the chase smooth.
Key Moments of Excitement
- England’s early resistance: Smith and Brook put up a 38-run partnership, looking comfortable against the seamers.
- England collapse: Loose shots, edges to slips, and Maharaj’s spin and Mulder’s seam led to rapid wickets.
- Markram’s fireworks: Four sixes and several boundaries brought the required runs up quickly.
- Fielding brilliance: Rickelton, Markram, and others held every half-chance, giving South Africa the edge.
Markram’s 86 runs were crucial, while Rickelton’s composure kept the innings stable. Maharaj’s spin and Mulder’s seam combined with sharp catching ensured England never got back into the game.
Match Flow
England started decently in the Powerplay, scoring 57 for 2, but pressure built steadily as wickets fell. South Africa chased with confidence. Markram punished Baker in particular, taking 20 runs in Baker’s second over, including two sixes. Rickelton rotated strike cleverly, letting Markram dominate without slowing the scoreboard.
By the time South Africa needed just a few runs to win, Markram had virtually sealed the match, and Dewald Brevis finished it off with a six. The visitors won by seven wickets, giving them a perfect start to the series.
Final Thoughts
This game was all about Markram’s aggression, Maharaj’s spin, and Mulder’s control, mixed with sharp fielding from the entire South African side. England fought in patches, but the pressure from disciplined bowling and fearless batting was too much. Fans saw a lively, boundary-filled ODI that moved quickly and kept excitement high throughout.
Match Stats
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| England | 131 all out (Jamie Smith 54, Harry Brook 28; Keshav Maharaj 4-22, Wiaan Mulder 3-33) |
| South Africa | 137/3 (Aiden Markram 86, Ryan Rickelton 49; Sonny Baker 0-76) |
| Player of the Match | Keshav Maharaj (SA) |
England’s Lowest ODI Totals vs South Africa
- 103 — The Oval, 1999
- 111 — Johannesburg, 2000
- 115 — East London, 1996
- 131 — Leeds, 2025*
Quickest All-Outs for England in ODIs
- 22.0 overs — vs SA, Wankhede 2023 WC
- 23.3 overs — vs NZ, Cardiff 2013
- 24.0 overs — vs NZ, Birmingham 2008
- 24.2 overs — vs PAK, Melbourne 1985
- 24.3 overs — vs SA, Leeds 2025*
Lowest Scores for England That Included a Fifty
- 125 — vs WI, Kingstown 1981 (I Botham 60)
- 127 — vs NZ, Christchurch 1983 (D Gower 53)
- 131 — vs SA, Headingley 2025 (J Smith 54)**
- 143 — vs SL, Dambulla 2001 (G Thorpe 62*)
SA’s Fastest Team 50s in ODIs
- 4.2 Overs — vs SL, 2018
- 5.2 Overs — vs ZIM, 2010
- 5.2 Overs — vs ENG, 2025**
- 5.3 Overs — vs AUS, 2007
England Bowlers Conceding Most Runs on ODI Debut
- 76 — Sonny Baker vs SA, Leeds 2025 (ER 10.85)**
- 70 — Liam Dawson vs PAK, Cardiff 2016
- 67 — David Lawrence vs WI, Lord’s 1991
- 66 — George Scrimshaw vs IRE, Nottingham 2023
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