In the second One-Day International against India on Sunday in Ranchi, South Africa posted 278/7 thanks to a 129-run third wicket stand between Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram.
Hendricks, who was not selected for the three-match T20 series and missed last Thursday’s first ODI, struck 74, while Markram made 79, laying the groundwork for what the visitors had anticipated would be a higher total than they actually reached.
On a humid day in the north-eastern Indian city, Keshav Maharaj, who was acting as captain in Temba Bavuma’s absence, decided to bat first. The field was level and dry, making it seem simple to score against the hard new ball.
The game began by Quinton de Kock with a straight drive for four, but he was out early in the third over by inside edging the ball into his stumps, as has become customary for him.
Janneman Malan, who had played some beautiful drives, would have been upset with himself for reaching 25, but the 27-year-old all-lbw rounder’s catch gave Shahbaz Ahmed his maiden international wicket.
Hendricks and Markram met as a result of the dismissal, and they gradually developed their working relationship. Markram sometimes seemed upset as many accurate strokes were blocked by fielders.
Hendricks, though, had more patience. Given his first chance since South Africa’s tour of the UK, Bavuma’s performance there has made it difficult for the national selectors to give him opportunities to get back in shape before the T20 World Cup.
The team’s management referred to Bavuma’s and wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi’s absence from Sunday’s game as “minor infection.” Hendricks took advantage of the chance to show everyone that he was still in excellent shape by delivering an innings full of lavish stroke-play.
Two lofted cover drives were among the highlights of his 74-run innings, which also included nine fours and a six. He would have been angry at being out after clubbing a short ball on leg stump to Shahbaz’s simple catch at deep midwicket.
In spite of having trouble reading Indian wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Markram managed to hit enough solid strokes off the other spinners to get his tenth half-century.
He took a back seat in a 46-run fourth wicket stand with Heinrich Klaasen, who struck 30 off 26 balls, in an effort to play the late innings anchor position. However, Markram and Klaasen were out in the space of three balls, allowing India to exert pressure in the last ten overs. Markram, who scored the most runs with 79 in an inning that included seven fours and a six, smacked a long hop off left-arm spinner Washington Sundar to cover.
With the balls becoming scuffed and soft, it became tough to smash boundaries throughout the last 10 overs. Just five boundaries—one of which was the result of a bye—came during the Proteas’ last 60 balls, which resulted in a meager 67 runs being scored by them.