Leeds (England), Sept 3: England was bowled out for 131 before opener Aiden Markram’s 55-ball 86 led South Africa to a seven-wicket win Tuesday in the first of three one-day internationals between the teams.
The hosts, possibly fatigued from the just-completed domestic Hundred competition, were dismissed in 24.3 overs at Headingley as Keshav Maharaj took 4-22 and Wiaan Mulder 3-33. Opener Jamie Smith top-scored for England with 54 off 48 balls.
South Africa had won the toss and chosen to bowl first after captain Temba Bavuma saw a dry wicket and noted that teams have fared well chasing in Leeds.
The Proteas raced home with 175 balls to spare after hammering 22-year-old fast bowler Sonny Baker, who made his England debut.
Baker, who starred in the recent edition of the Hundred, served up seven wicketless overs for 76 runs — the most expensive figures by an England bowler on ODI debut.
Markram welcomed Baker in the first over by hitting three boundaries in four deliveries.
Markram was caught by Smith at cover with the winning line only 11 runs away. Adil Rashid (3-26) then also removed Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs before Dewald Brevis’ majestic six — with just one run needed — closed it out with the Proteas reaching 137-3.
“It’s not good enough. I can’t say much more than we’ve just had a bad day,” England captain Harry Brook said. “Obviously, you want to keep on winning and winning, don’t you? But we’ve mis-executed a lot of our skills today. Nobody wants to come and watch that.
“You’ve just got to get rid of these games, I’m afraid. We’ve got to put it behind us as quickly as possible and move on to the next match.”
With several squad members involved in the Hundred eliminator and final over the weekend, England held one sparsely attended training session Monday and only came together as a group later that evening.
Brook refused to use that as an explanation.
“In my eyes, that’s an excuse. We’re not a team that makes excuses up,” he said.
“At the end of the day, that batting performance wasn’t good enough. I think everybody will hold their hands up and say that.”
South Africa was without fast-bowling star Kagiso Rabada because of an ankle injury, while Heinrich Klaasen was missing from the batting lineup after retiring from international cricket this summer.
The second ODI is at Lord’s on Thursday and the third takes place in Southampton on Sunday. (AP)
