South Africa’s pace sensation Kwena Maphaka created history as the youngest pacer in the history of T20 Internationals to take 4 wickets in a match. When South Africa (AUS vs SA) faced Australia at TIO Stadium, Marrara, the 19-year-old and 124-day-old seamer caught everyone by surprise with his controlled bowling spell. In his 4-over quota, Maphaka produced his career-best figures of 4/20 against Australia in the first game of the three-match AUS vs. SA 2025 series.
What is the record, and how did Maphaka make it possible?
With his stunning spell, Kwena Maphaka edged past a record set by his fellow countryman Wayne Parnell. Parnell was another sensational young talent produced by South African cricket. During a match against the West Indies in 2009, a 19-year-and-318-day-old Wayne Parnell bagged a four-wicket international. Before the latest encounter between South Africa and Australia, it remained as a landmark created by a young Protean, which now belongs to Kwena Maphaka.
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The young pace sensation who made his T20I debut against the West Indies in August last year dispatched Mitchell Owen as his first strike of the match in the seventh over of the first innings. Owen’s short innings came to an end after making only 2 runs. He then neutralized Ben Dwarshuis, who was looking strong, with a well-set Tim David. David, who played an 83 off 52, was also tricked by the young South African speed star. In the 19th over of the innings, Maphaka’s double strike helped South Africa to get back into the match. In the over, he first cleared David from the wicket, and then he clinched the scalp of Adam Zampa.
Summary of the match:
It was a rare occasion when Australia, in their own backyard, lost all of their wickets in a T20I game. In South Africa, the visitors had a very good chance to win the match, but they lacked in their batting performances. The golden opportunity created by the SA bowlers to defeat Australia, the batting line-up of SA could not utilize the chance. Ryan Rickelton was the only exception to their batting performance. The keeper-batter played his part well by creating a 55 of 71-run innings. Apart from Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs added some important runs in the middle.
178 runs on the board proved enough for the host to defend successfully, as most of the South African batters underperformed. Experienced pacers Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis claimed 3 wickets each to dismantle SA’s top and middle order batting combination. Adam Zampa proved his importance by taking a couple of wickets as well. After bowling well, South Africa was restricted to 161/9, and Australia won the match by 17 runs.
