Mon Jan 06 15:32:43 UTC 2025: ## Teen Sensation Maphaka Continues to Stump Babar Azam
**Cape Town, South Africa** – Kwena Maphaka, the youngest ever South African cricketer to debut across all three international formats, is making a significant impact on the international stage. The left-arm pacer, who celebrated his 19th birthday earlier this year, has already dismissed Pakistan captain Babar Azam three times in just five matches across formats.
Maphaka’s latest dismissal of Azam came during the second Test against Pakistan in Cape Town. Bowling consistently at over 140 kmph, he trapped Azam (58) lbw, a crucial wicket that contributed to Pakistan’s first innings total of 194, forcing a follow-on against South Africa’s imposing 615. This followed previous dismissals of Azam in an ODI match (part of a four-wicket haul on his ODI debut) and a T20I, where Azam was dismissed for a duck.
Maphaka’s meteoric rise began last year with a record-breaking performance at the U-19 World Cup, where he took 21 wickets – the most ever by a fast bowler in a single tournament. He then made his T20I debut against the West Indies, becoming the youngest South African international cricketer at 18 years and 137 days. His Test debut, also against Pakistan in Cape Town, saw him break another record, becoming the youngest South African Test cricketer at 18 years and 270 days.
The young fast bowler, also a member of the Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 squad, is proving to be a formidable opponent, consistently challenging even the most experienced batsmen. His ability to dismiss a player of Babar Azam’s caliber (fifth on Pakistan’s all-time run scorers list with nearly 15,000 international runs) three times in only five matches highlights his remarkable talent and potential. His performances are already adding another layer of excitement to the ongoing series and South Africa’s continued dominance in international cricket.
First Piper 