England’s hopes of starting the ODI series on a high ended in disappointment at Leeds, as they collapsed for just 131 runs in the opening match. South Africa chased down the target with ease, securing a seven-wicket victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After the defeat, England captain Harry Brook admitted that his side’s performance was simply “not good enough” and hardly worth watching.
England’s Batting Collapse
England’s batting lineup never looked settled. The team lost its final seven wickets for just 29 runs, a collapse that stunned both fans and pundits. Only Jamie Smith showed resistance with a gritty 54-run knock, while the rest of the batting order fell cheaply.
South Africa’s bowlers were outstanding. Wiaan Mulder (4/22) and Keshav Maharaj (3/33) ripped through the English lineup. With the bat, Aiden Markram played a commanding innings of 86 runs, steering his side to an easy win.
Harry Brook’s Honest Admission
Speaking after the game, Brook didn’t hold back:
“It’s not good enough. Nobody wants to come and watch that. We’ve just had a bad day.”
He emphasized that England is not a team that makes excuses, even though they lacked proper 50-over preparation before the series.
South Africa’s Confidence Shines
South African spinner Maharaj admitted he was surprised by how quickly England folded:
“We didn’t expect the England batters to fall short like that. The way we started, we put a lot of pressure with the ball.”
He praised Markram’s dominant innings, calling it a display of “taking the game by its horns.”
What’s Next?
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