Under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, South Africa created history on Thursday, 4 September, at Lord’s, London. Temba Bavuma became the first South African captain in the last 27 years to win a One-Day International (ODI) series in England. This victory ended a nearly three-decade-long drought for South Africa on English soil. A few months ago, Bavuma’s team had also ended another long wait by winning an ICC trophy, when South Africa defeated Australia in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final in England.
In the ongoing three-match ODI series against England, South Africa secured an unassailable 2-0 lead by winning the first two matches. Matthew Breetzke played a brilliant knock of 85 runs, while Tristan Stubbs also scored a fine half-century. Riding on their performances, South Africa posted a total of 330 runs. In response, England managed to score 325 runs and lost the second match by just 5 runs. With this victory, South Africa also clinched the series, as they had already won the first ODI.
Before this, the last time South Africa had won an ODI series in England was way back in 1998, when they defeated Adam Hollioake’s England team by 2-1 under the captaincy of Hansie Cronje. Since then, they had failed to win any ODI series in England — losing in 2008, 2017, and drawing in 2012 and 2022. However, with this 2025 series win, Temba Bavuma and his team have finally rewritten history.