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South Africa crushed England by seven wickets in Leeds as Aiden Markram hit 86 and Keshav Maharaj took 4-22, putting the Proteas 1-0 up in the ODI series.
England captain Harry Brook walking back after a poor show in the first ODI against South Africa. (AFP Photo)
South Africa handed England a crushing seven-wicket defeat in the first one-day international in Leeds on Tuesday.
The Proteas’ victory was virtually certain after they bowled out England for a mere 131 runs, with more than half of England’s overs remaining.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (4-22) and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (3-33) led the charge at an overcast Headingley following Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s decision to bowl first.
South Africa’s opener Aiden Markram then smashed a 23-ball fifty, featuring eight fours and two sixes, as South Africa reached 137-3 with almost 30 overs to spare.
Markram was particularly harsh on England debutant Sonny Baker. The Hampshire fast bowler conceded 76 runs from his seven overs and was previously dismissed for a golden duck.
Markram was eventually out for 86, caught at cover by a diving Jamie Smith off leg-spinner Adil Rashid (3-26).
Rashid later claimed two wickets in two balls with the scores level.
Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick and finished the match with a straight six off Rashid, putting South Africa 1-0 up in the three-match series and ending Harry Brook’s six-game winning streak as England’s white-ball captain.
Earlier, opener Smith scored 54 and was the only England batsman to make a significant contribution, with Jos Buttler’s 15 being the next highest score.
England entered the match without any 50-overs-per-side preparation, facing a South Africa team fresh from a 2-1 series win in Australia.
Brook (12) and Joe Root (14), both recently involved in a thrilling drawn Test series against India followed by the Hundred franchise competition, were dismissed cheaply on their Yorkshire home ground.
Despite the absence of fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, South Africa capitalised on England’s poor performance, with the hosts losing their last eight wickets for 49 runs from a relatively stable position of 82-2.
Maharaj, the world’s top-ranked ODI bowler, had Jacob Bethell (one) caught off a thick outside edge and took a simple return catch to dismiss Will Jacks.
Mulder dismissed Buttler and Jofra Archer with consecutive deliveries before Maharaj wrapped up England’s innings in 24.3 overs with two wickets in two balls, having Rashid lbw and clean bowling last man Baker.
The series continues at Lord’s on Thursday.
(With agency Inputs)
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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