Dire England crash back down to earth

HARRY Brook's winning streak as England's white-ball captain came to a shuddering halt against South Africa, with Sonny Baker’s painful debut summing up a torrid display in the first Metro Bank one-day international.

- By RORY DOLLARD

Brook kicked off his limited-overs reign with six consecutive wins over the West Indies earlier this summer, but the honeymoon ended decisively after his side were thoroughly outclassed in a seven-wicket thrashing at his home ground of Headingley.

The hosts were bowled out for 131 in a mere 24.3 overs — just under half their allocation - with Jamie Smith's 54 sticking out like a sore thumb amid a host of failures.

That was never likely to be enough to contain the Proteas, who raced home with 175 balls to spare in an assault that took Baker as collateral damage.

The 22-year-old had already been dismissed for a golden duck at number 11, wrapping up England's limp batting effort, when he was handed the new ball and asked to make an impression on a game that had already gone.

Instead he was mauled by Aiden Markram and served up seven wicketless overs for 76 - the most expensive ODI analysis by an England debutant.