South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka became the youngest bowler from full member cricket nations to take four wickets in a T20I match after finishing with career-best figures of 4/20 against Australia at the TIO Stadium in Marrara on Sunday.
All of 19 years and 124 days old, Kwena Maphaka went past the record of fellow South African Wayne Parnell, who was 19 years and 318 days old when he claimed a four-fer against the West Indies in 2009.
Kwena Maphaka played a starring role for the Proteas in the first game of the three-match AUS vs SA 2025 series with a fiery spell that helped South Africa bowl out Australia for the first time in T20 cricket.
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The South African cricket team pacer, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, bowled Mitchell Owen in the seventh over to put Australia on the backfoot at 73/5.
He then dismissed Ben Dwarshuis to break a crucial 40-run partnership and reduce the hosts to 134/7.
Entrusted to bowl the penultimate over of the innings, Kwena Maphaka delivered once again for South Africa.
Despite being dropped off the first ball of the over, Tim David, who was Australia’s top-scorer with 83 off 52 balls, failed to capitalise as Maphaka got him out in the very next delivery.
He then dismissed Adam Zampa in the same over, leaving Australia reeling at 166/9 as Maphaka conceded just two runs in his last over.
The hosts were eventually bowled out for 178 off the final delivery.
Maphaka was recently crowned the T20 Challenge Player of the Season at the CSA Awards 2024-25 after a stellar campaign in the domestic tournament, which saw him finish as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps.
The young speed sensation made his T20I debut against the West Indies in August last year and became the youngest player to ever play an international game for South Africa at the age of 18 years and 137 days.
