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Maharaj bowled 5.3 overs for South Africa in the first ODI and accounted for the dismissal of four English batters in Leeds on Tuesday.
Keshav Maharaj becomes first spinner to take four-fer for South Africa in an ODI match played in England. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Keshav Maharaj led South Africa’s spin attack in the first ODI against England on Tuesday (September 2) in Leeds and picked up four wickets. He bowled 5.2 overs in the series opener played at Headingley and conceded 22 runs. Maharaj’s super show with the ball helped the Proteas bowl England out for just 131 runs in 24.3 overs.
By accounting for the dismissal of four English batters in the first ODI, Maharaj entered his name in the history books. The 35-year-old cricketer became the first spinner from South Africa to dismiss at least four batters in an ODI match played against the English team in England.
Before him, only four South African pacers – Allan Donald, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje – managed to pick up one four-fer each in ODI matches played against the English team in England.
In fact, Maharaj’s figures are the second-best bowling performance by a South African bowler against the 2019 ODI World Cup winners in England.
Best ODI bowling figures for South Africa against England (in England)
Best ODI bowling figures for South Africa in England
| BOWLER | AGAINST | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | VENUE | DATE |
| Shaun Pollock | Australia | 9.2 | 36 | 5 | Birmingham | June 17, 1999 |
| Allan Donald | England | 8 | 17 | 4 | The Oval | May 22, 1999 |
| Ryan McLaren | Pakistan | 8 | 19 | 4 | Birmingham | June 10, 2013 |
| Keshav Maharaj | England | 5.3 | 22 | 4 | Leeds | September 2, 2025 |
| Imran Tahir | Sri Lanka | 8.3 | 27 | 4 | The Oval | June 3, 2017 |
| Allan Donald | Australia | 10 | 32 | 4 | Birmingham | June 17, 1999 |
| Dwaine Pretorius | England | 6 | 36 | 4 | Manchester | July 22, 2022 |
| Kagiso Rabada | England | 9 | 39 | 4 | Lord’s | May 29, 2017 |
| Anrich Nortje | England | 8.5 | 53 | 4 | Chester-le-Street | July 19, 2022 |
Maharaj’s figures of 4/22 also helped him break Imran Tahir’s record of best bowling performances by a South African spinner in ODIs against England. Tahir dismissed four English batters for 38 runs in 8.4 overs on March 6, 2011, during an ODI World Cup match played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Best bowling figures by South African spinner in ODIs against England
| BOWLER | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | VENUE | DATE |
| Keshav Maharaj | 5.3 | 22 | 4 | Leeds | September 2, 2025 |
| Imran Tahir | 8.4 | 38 | 4 | Chennai | March 6, 2011 |
| Robin Peterson | 8 | 22 | 3 | Chennai | March 6, 2011 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 6.1 | 25 | 3 | Lord’s | May 29, 2017 |
| Paul Adams | 9 | 26 | 3 | East London | January 19, 1996 |
The overall record of best bowling figures for South Africa in ODIs against England is in the name of former all-rounder Andrew Hall. Hall accounted for the dismissal of 5 English batters for 18 runs in 10 overs on April 17, 2007, in Bridgetown.
Best bowling figures in ODIs for South Africa against England
| BOWLER | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | VENUE | DATE |
| Andrew Hall | 10 | 18 | 5 | Bridgetown | April 17, 2007 |
| Shaun Pollock | 9 | 20 | 5 | Johannesburg | February 13, 2000 |
| Wayne Parnell | 9.3 | 48 | 5 | Cape Town | November 27, 2009 |
| Allan Donald | 8 | 17 | 4 | The Oval | May 22, 1999 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 5.3 | 22 | 4 | Leeds | September 2, 2025 |
For South Africa, apart from Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder picked up 3 wickets for 33 runs in seven overs on Tuesday, and Aiden Markram scored 86 runs from 55 balls in the 132-run chase.
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