South Africa delivered a commanding efficiency within the first ODI towards England at Headingley, Leeds on September 2, 2025, securing a dominant seven-wicket victory with 175 balls to spare. Keshav Maharaj‘s excellent bowling figures of 4/22 spearheaded the demolition of England’s batting lineup, making historical past as the primary South Africa spinner to take 4 wickets towards England in an ODI performed on English soil. The left-arm spinner’s stellar efficiency provides one other chapter to South Africa’s wealthy custom of spin bowling excellence towards England in ODIs.
Keshav Maharaj’s historic efficiency towards England units new data
The match witnessed England being bowled out for a paltry 131 runs in simply 24.3 overs, their lowest first-innings whole towards South Africa in ODI cricket. After successful the toss and electing to bowl first, South African captain Temba Bavuma‘s choice proved to be a masterstroke as his bowling assault, led by Maharaj and Wiaan Mulder (3/33), systematically dismantled England’s batting order.
Maharaj’s figures of 4/22 in 5.3 overs symbolize not solely the very best bowling efficiency by a South African spinner towards England in ODIs but in addition mark a major milestone in cricket historical past. The world’s primary ODI bowler claimed essential wickets together with Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, and debutant Sonny Baker, ending the innings with consecutive deliveries that sealed England’s destiny.
England’s collapse was spectacular in its completeness. From a comparatively safe place of 102/3, they misplaced their final seven wickets for merely 29 runs, with solely opener Jamie Smith (54 off 48 balls) providing any significant resistance. The hosts’ innings lasted lower than half their allotted overs, marking their fifth-shortest all-out innings in ODI historical past.
In response to England’s modest whole, South Africa’s chase was led by Aiden Markram‘s explosive 86 off 55 balls, which included a record-breaking 23-ball fifty – the quickest by a South African opener towards England. The opening partnership of 121 runs between Markram and Ryan Rickelton successfully sealed the match throughout the first 18 overs.
High 5 South African spin bowling performances towards England
Maharaj’s heroics at Headingley be a part of an illustrious listing of South African spin bowling achievements towards England in ODI cricket. These performances showcase the constant high quality and effectiveness of South African spinners throughout completely different eras and circumstances.
1) 4/22 – Keshav Maharaj at Headingley, 2025
The newest and arguably most vital efficiency got here in Leeds, the place Maharaj turned the primary South African spinner to assert 4 wickets towards England in an ODI on English soil. His various tempo and flight utterly bamboozled the England batters, with the left-arm spinner delivering a masterclass in spin bowling that helped limit England to their lowest whole towards South Africa when batting first.
2) 4/38 – Imran Tahir at Chennai, 2011
Through the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, leg-spinner Imran Tahir produced a devastating spell on the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Bowling 8.4 overs in England’s first innings whole of 171, Tahir claimed the essential wickets of Jonathan Trott, Michael Yardy, Stuart Broad, and Graeme Swann. His googly proved significantly efficient, with a number of batters failing to choose the variation as England struggled towards his bowling.
Additionally READ: Ruthless South Africa hammers England within the 1st ODI as Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj shine vivid
3) 3/22 – Robin Peterson at Chennai, 2011
Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson delivered a match-changing efficiency in the identical World Cup encounter. Peterson surprised England by claiming each openers within the first over itself, dismissing Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen earlier than including Ian Bell to finish his three-wicket haul. His figures of three/22 represented his greatest ODI bowling show on the time, surpassing his earlier greatest of three/42 towards Pakistan.
4) 3/25 – Keshav Maharaj at Lord’s, 2017
In one other memorable efficiency on the dwelling of cricket, Maharaj claimed three essential wickets throughout England’s collapse to 153 all out. His victims included Jonny Bairstow, who was stumped after charging down the pitch, Jake Ball, and Steven Finn within the last over of England’s innings. The efficiency got here throughout a match the place England misplaced their first six wickets for simply 20 runs.
5) 3/26 – Paul Adams at East London, 1996
The unorthodox left-arm spinner Paul Adams produced a career-defining efficiency at Buffalo Park, East London. In solely his second ODI, Adams claimed the important thing wickets of Graeme Hick, Graham Thorpe, and Dominic Cork, serving to South Africa defend a modest whole of 129. His spell proved essential as South Africa gained by 14 runs, with Adams incomes the Participant of the Match award for his excellent bowling figures.
Additionally WATCH: South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton pulls off magical catch to dismiss Joe Root within the 1st ODI
