ODI Match Report | South Africa (137-3) beat England (131)

South Africa thrashed England in the first game of the ODI series

England’s new white-ball era under Harry Brook was given a bruising reality check at Headingley, where they were bowled out for 131 and beaten by seven wickets in the first one-day international against South Africa.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium | Headingley Cricket Ground

The hosts, playing their first 50-over match since sweeping aside West Indies earlier in the summer, collapsed from a promising 82 for two to 131 all out inside 25 overs. Brook was run out for 12 to trigger the slide, while opener Jamie Smith was the only batter to pass 15, making 54 from 48 balls.

Jacob Bethell’s struggles continued, Will Jacks chipped back a simple catch after his exertions in the Hundred final 48 hours earlier, and Jos Buttler scratched out 15 from 24 deliveries. The final seven wickets tumbled for just 29 runs in little more than seven overs. Keshav Maharaj claimed 4 for 22 on a surface offering little spin, while Wiaan Mulder added 3 for 33.

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England’s bowlers fared little better. Debutant Sonny Baker endured a chastening introduction, conceding 76 runs in seven overs, the most expensive figures by an England bowler on ODI debut. Jofra Archer had Ryan Rickelton nicked off early only for the ball to bounce before slip, then saw an lbw appeal against the same batter go unreviewed. 

Aiden Markram hammered 86 from 55 balls before Smith took a stunning catch with the finish line in sight. South Africa still won with nearly 30 overs to spare, Rickelton ending 31 not out.

Fan reaction

Michael Haldsworth told us: “That wasn’t ideal. A terrible start to the series, but the players and manager will just have to brush it off as one of those bad days and move on as quickly as possible.”

Vince, another fan, told us: “Brendon McCullum is a high-calibre coach and will handle the situation with composure. He is likely to deliver some home truths the players will not enjoy, but this is not an era where teacups are hurled across the dressing room.”

South Africa have long been a catalyst for change in English cricket

Past encounters with their Test side led directly to the departures of three England captains: Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss. In the white-ball game, too, they have left scars. A heavy World Cup defeat in Mumbai two years ago helped trigger a decline from which England’s 50-over team have still not recovered, while another loss at this year’s Champions Trophy marked the end of Jos Buttler’s time as captain.

This latest hammering at Headingley, the third successive one-day defeat after reverses in India and Pakistan, is unlikely to prompt such deep soul-searching. Yet the manner of the loss was stark.

England were beaten by seven wickets, but the margin barely told the story. The contrast was clearer in the ironic cheers when a wicket finally fell and in the early departures from the stands, long before the floodlights had fully taken effect.