Markram inspires Proteas to a win against Australia 

Markram inspires Proteas to a win against Australia 

Proteas batter Aiden Markram’s superb unbeaten century helped South Africa secure a big 111-run victory over Australia in the third match of the ODI Series played at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

Markram plundered four sixes and nine fours as he reached 102 with the final delivery of the Proteas innings. He helped them post 338 for six after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.

AIDEN MARKRAM FIRES PROTEAS TO BIG VICTORY 

In what was the hosts’ best performance of the tour so far, there was a significant 146-run opening partnership between Quinton de Kock. 

Reeza Hendricks (39) and Marco Jansen (32) also collected some handy runs, before four wickets by Gerald Coetzee (4/50) helped blow away the Australians for just 227 in 34.3 overs.

Although the fast bowler was the most successful, the hard yards were done by outstanding spin duo Tabraiz Shamsi (2/29) and Keshav Maharaj (2/37).

It means the five-match series is still alive and the Proteas now have the first win of the 2023/24 campaign. This is after losing the first five games – they lost the three-match KFC T20 International Series by a 3-0 margin.

Proteas batter Aiden Markram’s superb unbeaten century helped South Africa secure a big 111-run victory
Proteas squad celebrating

ODI SQUAD AGAINST AUSTRALIA 

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sisanda Magala (DP World Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).

SERIES SCHEDULE 

Thursday, 07 September – 13:00 

South Africa lost to Australia by 3 wickets at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein 

Saturday, 09 September – 13:00 

South Africa lost to Australia by 123 runs at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein  

Tuesday, 12 September – 13:00 

South Africa beat Australia by 111 runs – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom 

Friday, 15 September – 13:00 

South Africa vs Australia – SuperSport Park, Centurion 

Sunday, 17 September – 10:00 

South Africa vs Australia – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Markram rises in ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings

Markram rises in ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings

Proteas batter Aiden Markram has made significant rise in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI player rankings. This is after hitting a career-best 175 against the Netherlands over the past week.

The T20I captain gained 13 spots to reach 41st position in the batting rankings and 16 places to 32nd in the all-rounders’ list. Another career-best feat in each as South Africa beat the Dutch 2-0 in their three-match series in Johannesburg.

AIDEN MARKRAM SUPBERB FORM HELP PROTEAS

The Proteas edged closer to automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year. 

The Netherlands batters also made good progress, with Max O’Dowd (up to 75th from 78th).  Vikramjit Singh (up to 109th from 119th) and Teja Ndiamanuru (up to 138th from 154th) the most notable mentions.

The week’s results and movements in the rankings have also seen India’s Shubman Gill rise one place to reach his own career-best batting ranking of number four.

Aiden Markram rises in ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings
Aiden Markram was recently appointed Sunrisers Hyderabad

Other gains were made by New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls, who climbed two spots to 69 in the batting rankings and his teammate Will Young, who leaped 60 spots to a personal best 143rd following their 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka.

Matt Henry stood out for the Black Caps, jumping five slots to land on the fifth spot in the bowling rankings from number 10, while South Africa’s Sisanda Magala announced himself with a 35-place leap to his own career-best number 165th after taking eight wickets in two matches, including a maiden five-wicket haul against the Netherlands.

OTHER ICC MEN’S ODI PLAYER RANKINGS

In the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, Bangladesh’s Litton Das has risen one spot to reach 21st position, his highest career ranking so far, sharing the spot with New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who rose five places from 26. This is also Mitchell’s career-best ranking while his previous best was 25th. 

Sri Lanka’s Kariyawasa Asalanka ties with Scotland’s George Munsey for 23rd place after jumping 12 spots from 35th. 

Ireland’s batters also made significant gains after their 2-1 series defeat to Bangladesh. Captain Paul Stirling, led from the front with a five-spot rise to 29th place. His teammates, Harry Tector and Curtis Campher rose to 87th and 100th, respectively, Tector progressed three places from 90th and Campher made a notable, 25-place leap, also rising nine places in the bowling rankings to 134th.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan remains the number one T20I all-rounder, while going up one spot in the batting rankings to 62nd place. 

In the bowling rankings, Maheesh Theekshana has risen three spots to 10th while Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed has gone up three places to 36th. 

Markram, De Zorzi hit half-centuries for Proteas 

Markram, De Zorzi hit half-centuries for Proteas 

Half-centuries by Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi handed the Proteas the edge after opening day of the second Test against West Indies at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The hosts reached stumps on 311 for seven thanks in the main to opener Markram. Markram was also the Player of the Match in the series opener. He scored a century and 47, thanks to his scintillating 96 (139 balls, 17 fours).

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT AT THE WANDERERS 

De Zorzi, who is an international debutant in the series, also impressed with 85 off 155 balls. He banked a maiden Test 50.

However, the home side lost most of that impetus when the tourists claimed five wickets in the final two hours to remain well in the game after the first day.

There was nonetheless plenty of positives for South Africa to be encouraged by, especially after their struggles with the bat over the past year.

ALSO READ: Aiden Markram replace Bavuma as Proteas T20I captain

This time around they again won the toss at the start, with captain Temba Bavuma electing to bat first. Dean Elgar and Markram both scored quickly early on as the Proteas went to 50 in 11 overs.

The partnership reached 76. Before the Elgar was excellently caught by Roston Chase diving forward at short fine leg off pick-of-the-bowlers Gudakesh Motie (3/75) for 42 off 54 balls. 

AIDEN MARKRAM AND TONY DE ZORZI SHINE FOR THE PROTEAS 

That brought together De Zorzi and Markram, who together had the biggest partnership of the innings. The two put on 116 together for the second wicket. Taking their side to 192 when Markram tried to sweep and instead miscued to Jermaine Blackwood running to the leg side from slip, falling four short of a century.

Proteas batter Aiden Markram fell short of a century by four runs against West Indies
Proteas batter Aiden Markram fell short of a century by four runs against West Indies

The Proteas continued to look comfortable after tea when Bavuma (28) settled in nicely. Only to be trapped leg before wicket by Jason Holder (1/39) ending a third wicket stand of 56.4

ALSO READ: Anrich Nortje, Langeveldt released from Proteas Test squad

De Zorzi followed not too long after when he was bowled by Motie. With the recalled Ryan Rickelton next to go after reaching 22.

Kyle Mayers (2/24) added the late wickets of Wiaan Mulder (12) and Simon Harmer (1). He capped a strong comeback for the islanders as they took back some of the initiative that had been seized by South Africa.

RELATED POST: Markram ton helps Proteas in opening day 

Markram ton helps Proteas in opening day 

Markram ton helps Proteas in opening day 

Proteas batter Aiden Markram enjoyed a successful return to the squad by scoring his sixth century on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies at SuperSport Park in Tshwane on Tuesday.

Markram struck 115 off 174 balls to help South Africa post 314 for eight. They won the toss and batting on the Highveld.

Markram shared an opening partnership of 141 with Dean Elgar (71 off 118 balls, 11 fours). This was also South Africa’s highest opening stand in more than two years. The last time the opening pair recorded as many together was when the two players scored 141 against Sri Lanka at the same venue in the Boxing Day Test of 2020.

AIDEN MARKRAM SCORES SIX 100 ON OPENING TEST 

However, the visitors then clawed their way back to take the honours from the second part of a day that had marked the start of a new era for the Proteas. Temba Bavuma captained the red-ball team for the first time with head coach Shukri Conrad also in the dugout for the first time.

ALSO DEAL: New era for the Proteas under Temba Bavuma and Conrad

There were debuts for the country’s in-form domestic batter Tony de Zorzi as well as fast bowler Gerald Coetzee. Senuran Muthusamy played his first game on home soil after two previous Tests in India. The fit-again Keegan Petersen was also back for the first time since featuring against England last September.

Bavuma would have been pleased with the start to his tenure as he watched Markram and Elgar put together a big opening stand that started with them taking their side to lunch on 99 for none. The partnership eventually ended. When a false shot by the latter saw him dismissed by Alzarri Joseph (3/60) not long after the break.

ALSO READ: CSA announces Proteas support staff for West Indies series

De Zorzi was next in and looked largely comfortable as he helped Markram get South Africa to 221. This was before needlessly being run out searching for a third run after reaching 28. The pair put on 80 together. But the breakthrough gave the West Indians an opening and they fully capitalised thereafter when seven wickets fell for 69.

BAD DEBUT AS PROTEAS CAPTAIN FOR BAVUMA 

Bavuma’s maiden innings as captain lasted two balls as he fell for nought. He was trapped leg before wicket by Josephs, who also took out Markram. 

Wickets continued to tumble from there with Heinrich Klaasen (20), Senuran Muthusamy (3), Petersen (14) and Kagiso Rabada (8) all failing. In the end, Marco Jansen (17*) and Coetzee (11*) were left to carry the South Africans to the close.

RELATED POST: Proteas players included in the ICC teams of the year