Markram Leads South Africa to Thrilling ODI Victory in India

A Tour of Highs and Lows

From handing India their heaviest Test defeat by runs in Guwahati to successfully chasing their own highest target away from home in Raipur, South Africa’s tour of India has been a remarkable journey. Despite his team’s success, captain Aiden Markram admitted he hadn’t fully experienced all the action firsthand.

Markram confessed he was “hiding at the back of the change-room” while Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj sealed a series-leveling win, nervously hoping to go unnoticed. “It feels like everything’s going smoothly, and then all of a sudden the game might change,” he reflected. “At the death, the run-rate can go up really quickly as well. I was biting my nails and trying not to engage with anyone.”

He emerged after the winning runs to commend injured Nandre Burger for his calm approach, acknowledging, “I would never have been that way.” Beyond nerves, Markram carried the weight of expectations to perform in his primary discipline, especially after South Africa’s shaky start in the series opener.

From Setback to Redemption

Chasing 350 in Ranchi, South Africa found themselves reeling at 11 for 3 in the fifth over. Markram, the third wicket to fall, felt personally responsible for the poor start and was determined to make amends. In Raipur, he took the lead in a similar chase under similar conditions.

Batting aggressively from the start, Markram punished small errors from Harshit Rana and stabilized the innings after Quinton de Kock’s early dismissal, easing the pressure on Temba Bavuma. Even as the required run-rate climbed, both Markram and Bavuma kept their composure, mindful of the top-order collapse three days prior.

Anchoring the Middle Overs

South Africa boast exciting talents in Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, and Dewald Brevis, who play with freedom. Often, Markram takes on the anchor role, allowing the young hitters to flourish. He and Breetzke safely negotiated a challenging over from Kuldeep Yadav, while seizing chances to score off Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Markram’s 88-ball century, the slowest of his four ODI hundreds, showcased both aggression and control. “Runs only matter if you win games,” he emphasized, highlighting his team-first approach.

Young Guns Take Charge

Markram’s dismissal left South Africa 162 runs away from victory with seven wickets in hand. Enter Breetzke and Brevis, who seized the opportunity with composure and flair. Breetzke, already with seven fifties from his first 11 ODIs, exemplified consistency and confidence, while Brevis’s 33-ball fifty shifted momentum decisively in South Africa’s favor.

By the 40th over, South Africa’s required run-rate had fallen below eight, allowing de Zorzi and Breetzke to bat conservatively. Even injuries to key players didn’t induce panic, thanks to South Africa’s deep batting lineup, including all-rounders Marco Jansen and Bosch, who ultimately finished the chase.

Building Belief Ahead of the Series Decider

This victory has reinforced the team’s confidence in chasing big totals under pressure. Bosch noted, “There’s always the belief that we can chase anything.” Markram echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of winning against a world-class team like India in their home conditions.

The series finale will take place in Vizag on Saturday, promising another exciting chapter in South Africa’s tour.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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