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In his first-ever ODI match for the English team, Sonny Baker conceded 76 runs in seven overs, and he did not take any wickets as well.
Sonny Baker conceded 76 runs in his quota of seven overs within the 1st ODI against South Africa. (Picture Credit: AFP)
22-year-old right-arm fast bowler Sonny Baker made his ODI debut for England on Tuesday, September 2, in Leeds. Within the series opener of the three-match ODI series against South Africa at Headingley, the teen, nonetheless, did not impress together with his bowling. He opened the bowling attack for the English team and conceded 76 runs in only seven overs.
His figures of 0/76 in seven overs are the worst bowling figures on ODI debut by an English bowler. He broke spinner Liam Dawson’s record. On his ODI debut for England against Pakistan in Cardiff on September 4, 2016, 35-year-old Dawson bowled eight overs and conceded 70 runs. He was also in a position to take two wickets in that fixture.
Worst bowling figures on ODI debut for England
| BOWLER | AGAINST | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | ECONOMY | VENUE | DATE |
| Sonny Baker | South Africa | 7 | 76 | 0 | 10.85 | Leeds | September 2, 2025 |
| Liam Dawson | Pakistan | 8 | 70 | 2 | 8.75 | Cardiff | September 4, 2016 |
| David Lawrence | West Indies | 11 | 67 | 4 | 6.09 | Lord’s | May 27, 1991 |
| George Scrimshaw | Ireland | 8.4 | 66 | 3 | 7.61 | Nottingham | September 23, 2023 |
The economy rate of 10.85 by Sonny Baker is the best economy rate by a bowler on ODI debut, with a minimum of seven overs bowled.
Worst economy rate on ODI debut (minimum 6 overs)
| PLAYER | TEAM | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | ECONOMY | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Jediah Blades | West Indies | 6 | 73 | 0 | 12.16 | Bangladesh | Basseterre | December 12, 2024 |
| Sonny Baker | England | 7 | 76 | 0 | 10.85 | South Africa | Leeds | September 2, 2025 |
| Peter Connell | Ireland | 9 | 95 | 0 | 10.55 | Latest Zealand | Aberdeen | July 1, 2008 |
| Ryan ten Doeschate | Netherlands | 5 | 51 | 2 | 10.20 | Sri Lanka | Amstelveen | July 4, 2006 |
| Iain O’Brien | Latest Zealand | 6 | 59 | 1 | 9.83 | England | Napier | February 20, 2008 |
| Peter Borren | Netherlands | 10 | 94 | 1 | 9.40 | Sri Lanka | Amstelveen | July 4, 2006 |
| Zain Abbas | Hong Kong | 6 | 56 | 1 | 9.33 | Pakistan | Karachi | June 24, 2008 |
| Oshane Thomas | West Indies | 9 | 83 | 1 | 9.22 | India | Guwahati | October 21, 2018 |
| Talha Jubair | Bangladesh | 5 | 46 | 0 | 9.20 | Latest Zealand | Colombo (SSC) | September 23, 2002 |
| Mohammad Saifuddin | Bangladesh | 5 | 46 | 0 | 9.20 | South Africa | Kimberley | October 15, 2017 |
| Omid Shafi Rahman | UAE | 8 | 73 | 0 | 9.12 | USA | Windhoek | September 24, 2024 |
Within the series opener, after being invited to bat first, England could only manage to attain 131 runs in 24.3 overs. Spinner Keshav Maharaj picked up 4 wickets for 22 runs in 5.3 overs, and three English batters were sent back to the pavilion by all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for 33 runs in seven overs.
The overall of 131 runs is England’s second-lowest ODI total at home against South Africa.
Lowest ODI totals for England against South Africa (in England)
| SCORE | OVERS | VENUE | RESULT | DATE |
| 103/10 | 41 | The Oval | Lost | May 22, 1999 |
| 131/10 | 24.3 | Leeds | Lost | September 2, 2025 |
| 153/10 | 31.1 | Lord’s | Lost | May 29, 2017 |
| 182/10 | 45.2 | Nottingham | Lost | September 5, 2012 |
| 194/10 | 46.4 | Manchester | Lost | May 23, 1998 |
Lowest ODI totals for England against South Africa
| SCORE | OVERS | VENUE | RESULT | DATE |
| 103/10 | 41 | The Oval | Lost | May 22, 1999 |
| 111/10 | 38 | Johannesburg | Lost | February 13, 2020 |
| 115/10 | 43.4 | East London | Lost | January 19, 1996 |
| 131/10 | 24.3 | Leeds | Lost | September 2, 2025 |
| 152/10 | 44.3 | Rawalpindi | Lost | February 25, 1996 |
| 153/10 | 31.1 | Lord’s | Lost | May 29, 2017 |
| 154/10 | 48 | Bridgetown | Lost | April 17, 2007 |
| 154/10 | 46.1 | Gqeberha | Lost | January 21, 1996 |
| 170/10 | 22 | Mumbai (WS) | Lost | October 21, 2023 |
| 171/10 | 45.4 | Chennai | Won | March 6, 2011 |
For England, opener Jamie Smith scored 54 runs from 48 balls, but other than him, no other batter managed to cross the 20-run mark.
Within the 132-run chase, Aiden Markram helped South Africa get off to a flying start. The South African T20I captain scored 86 runs from just 55 balls. He added 121 runs in 18.1 overs for the primary wicket with Ryan Rickelton (31 runs from 59 balls) and hammered 13 fours and a pair of sixes during his stay on the crease on Tuesday.
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