Follow UsSonny Baker was picked in England's One-Day International (ODI) squad on the back of impressive performances in The Hundred, where he also picked up a hat-trick. He may have picked up nine wickets in the tournament for Manchester Originals, but he did not come remotely close to getting a maiden ODI scalp in the first game of the series against South Africa in Leeds.
Baker conceded 76 runs from the seven overs he bowled and went at 10.85 runs per over. That makes him the most expensive bowler on debut in ODI history.
10.85 Sonny Baker (ENG) vs SA, Leeds, 2025
10.55 Peter Connell (IRE) vs NZ, Abdrdeen, 2008
9.40 Peter Borren (NED) vs SL, Amstelveen, 2006
9.22 Oshane Thomas (WI) vs IND, Guwahati 2018
9.12 Omid Shafi Rahman (UAE) vs USA, Windhoek, 2024
Aiden Markram was particularly severe on Baker as the senior batter smashed the debutant for 57 runs out of the 32 balls he faced against him, striking at 178.1. Markram smashed as many as nine fours and two sixes against the 22-year-old.
Chasing 132, South Africa never really looked in trouble as opener Markram raced to a 23-ball fifty. He eventually finished with 86 off 55 to lead the Proteas to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Also Read: England Register Lowest ODI Total At Home Against South Africa In 26 Years
A couple of quick wickets from Adil Rashid delayed the inevitable, but South Africa got home comfortably in the end. South Africa won with 175 balls to spare, which is one of the biggest defeats for England in the 50-over format at home.
196 balls - New Zealand, Chester-le-Street, 2004
188 balls - Australia, Leeds, 1975
188 balls - India, The Oval, 2022
175 balls - South Africa, Leeds, 2025
154 balls - Australia, Manchester, 2015
However, for the Proteas, this was the quickest win in an ODI away from home - the fastest since 2005.
19.1 overs vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 2005
20.3 overs vs England, Leeds, 2025
26.4 overs vs West Indies, Kingston, 2005
27.4 overs vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2014
With this win, South Africa go 1-0 up in the three-match series. England will look to bounce back in the next game, which will be played at Lord's on September 4 (Thursday).