South Africa’s Bavuma Reflects on Historic Defeat in Third ODI Against England

South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, expressed concerns over his team’s attitude following a historic 342-run defeat to England in an ODI match on Sunday. This loss marked the largest margin of victory in ODI history when batting first, surpassing India’s 317-run win over Sri Lanka in 2023.

Chasing a daunting target of 415, the Proteas were swiftly bowled out for just 72 runs in 20.5 overs at Southampton, narrowly avoiding their lowest ODI score of 69 against Australia in 1993. England’s previous record for the largest victory margin was set at 242 runs against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018.

Bavuma acknowledged the team’s lackluster fielding, highlighted by multiple dropped catches, as evidence of their overall poor performance. “It’s disheartening. We were just inadequate in every aspect. Fielding hinges on attitude, and our performance in that department raises questions,” he remarked.

He also noted issues with their bowling, particularly the high number of extras conceded, and admitted that their batting lineup struggled against England’s formidable bowlers. Despite previously winning the first two games of the series, Bavuma dismissed the notion that complacency was a factor in their collapse, emphasizing the importance of representing one’s country.

South Africa’s recent form against major teams, including a series victory over Australia, has shown promise. Bavuma remains optimistic about the team’s progress, stating, “We are moving forward and answering questions about our team.”

England’s powerful performance was highlighted by Jacob Bethell’s maiden professional century of 110 runs and Joe Root’s solid 100. Jofra Archer played a key role with the ball, taking 4-18 in nine overs, dismantling South Africa’s top order, showcasing his potential ahead of the Ashes.

England captain Harry Brook praised Archer’s performance, stating, “It was awesome to see Jofra bowling with such intensity,” and celebrated the team’s overall efforts, calling it “the ultimate performance.”

Brook also applauded Bethell’s debut, signaling a bright future, “That’s just the beginning for him. Hopefully, this is the first of many milestones.”

Published on Sep 08, 2025.