Maharaj, Mulder combine for seven wickets to rout England in Leeds

Keshav Maharaj (4-22) and Wiaan Mulder (3-33) dovetailed to plot England’s downfall at Headingley as South Africa crushed England by seven wickets in the ODI series opener. The duo shared seven spoils between them as the hosts nosedived from 82/2 to 131 all out inside 25 overs, before the visitors gunned down the target with consummate ease thanks to a blistering 55-ball 85 from Aiden Markram.

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.

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.

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