South Africa’s vice-captain Aiden Markram lit up Headingley with a blistering 23-ball half-century, steering his team to a dominant seven-wicket victory over England in the first ODI on Tuesday. His explosive knock not only sealed the win but also etched his name into the record books.
Markram Breaks Record Against England
Chasing just 132 runs, Markram went on the attack from ball one, hammering debutant pacer Sonny Baker for three boundaries in the very first over. He didn’t stop there—launching two sixes and a four in the next over to leave England reeling.
Markram brought up his fifty off just 23 balls, the fastest ODI fifty by a South African against England, surpassing Chris Morris’ 30-ball fifty in 2016.
South Africa’s Strong Start
Alongside Ryan Rickelton, Markram powered South Africa to the 50-run mark in just six overs, one of their fastest ODI starts ever. The duo stitched together South Africa’s first 100-plus opening stand against England since 2016, when Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock combined for 239 in Centurion.
Markram eventually fell for 86 off 55 balls to Adil Rashid, but the damage was already done. Rickelton (31*) and Dewald Brevis (6*) finished the chase with a staggering 187 balls to spare.
England’s Batting Collapse
Earlier, England’s batting lineup crumbled after being put in to bat. They were bundled out for just 131 in 25 overs, their fourth-lowest total against South Africa in ODIs and second-lowest at Headingley.
- Keshav Maharaj starred with the ball, taking 4 wickets.
- Wiaan Mulder grabbed 3 scalps, while Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi chipped in with one each.
- Only Jamie Smith showed resistance, scoring 54 off 48 balls, as six other England batters fell for single digits.
South Africa Take 1-0 Lead
The emphatic win gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, boosting their confidence after recently clinching a 2-1 ODI series win against Australia. With Markram in top form and the bowlers firing, England will need a big turnaround to stay alive in the series.
