Promising left-arm bowler Kwena Maphaka made an impressive ODI debut for South Africa in the second match of the ongoing series against Pakistan with figures of 4/72 in at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday.

At the age of 18 years and 255 days, Kwena Maphaka also became the youngest ODI debutant for South Africa, eclipsing Victor Mpitsang, who was 18 years and 314 days when he played against the West Indies in 1999.

Maphaka, picked up by Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League 2025 season, got the crucial wickets of in-form Saim Ayub, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan, a dangerous Kamran Ghulam and Haris Rauf.

The teenager joined an illustrious group of South Africans who made a mark on their ODI debuts. He became the ninth Protean to pick up four wickets in their maiden ODI match - a list that includes Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.

Only two South Africans have recorded a five-wicket haul on their ODI debut – Kagiso Rabada holds the record with figures of 6/16 against Bangladesh in 2015 and Allan Donald, who registered 5/29 against India in 1991.

His performance meant that Kwena Maphaka also became the youngest South African to pick up a four-wicket haul, surpassing Wayne Parnell’s 4/25 against Australia in 2009 when he was 19 years and 276 days.

Kwena made his T20I debut for South Africa against the West Indies in August, becoming the youngest South African man to play international cricket at 18 years and 137 days.

On Thursday, Saim Ayub, who scored a sublime century in the first match of the series, was beaten by Maphaka’s pace and bounce and top-edged his shot to be caught in the third-man region in the 10th over.

Maphaka’s consistent line and length also troubled the experienced duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, even getting the praise from legendary Dale Steyn.

Rizwan was eventually outdone by Maphaka, who demonstrated brilliant fielding abilities by taking a diving catch off his own bowling in the 36th over.

Maphaka, despite being just 18, was entrusted by skipper Temba Bavuma to bowl the final over. The left-arm pacer got the better of a well-set Kamran Ghulam on the first delivery before dismissing Haris Rauf two balls later. Pakistan were bowled out on 329.

At the 2024 U-19 World Cup earlier this year, Kwena registered 21 wickets to finish as the top wicket-taker. It is also the record for the most wickets in a single tournament by a fast bowler. His run included three five-wicket hauls, a record for a single edition, and a three-wicket spell against India in the semi-finals.