An incredible maiden Aiden Markram century together with a career-best five-for from Sisanda Magala helped the Proteas cruise to a huge 146-run win over the Netherlands in the third Betway Pink One-Day International in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The result sealed the rearranged three-match series 2-0 for the hosts. More importantly, it moved them ahead in the race for ICC Cricket World Cup qualification where only one team can catch them on the ICC World Cup Super League table.
This result, however, was an important one under pressure on a day when the DP World Wanderers Stadium was painted pink and filled with a vibrant crowd.
Right-hander Markram, South Africa’s T20 International captain, was the star of the show during the first half of the day when he clobbered his own best ODI score of 175 (126 balls, 17 fours, 7 sixes), smashing his previous best score of 96 in what was his 50th match for his country.
He was aided excellently by David Miller, who blasted 91 off 61 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) as the home side racked up 370 for eight.
It was then over to Magala to carry the baton during the second part of the day, with the seamer grabbing five for 43 to help bowl out the visitors for 224 in 39.1 overs.
It gave the Proteas a commanding win and one that means they moved ahead of West Indies in the race for the World Cup later this year, with the only side that can catch them being Ireland when they take on Bangladesh next month.
With South Africa having comfortably won match two of the series in Benoni on Friday – the tour was postponed and rearranged after a Covid-19 outbreak following match one in 2021 – they were looking to close out the series on Sunday.
And after losing the toss and being put in to bat, they were dealt a double blow inside the first eight overs when captain Temba Bavuma (6) and Quinton de Kock (8) were removed by Vivian Kingma (2/80) with only 32 on the board.
Markram, together with Rassie van der Dussen (25) and Heinrich Klaasen (28), did the initial repair work with stand of 62 and 51 respectively that took the hosts to 145 for four.
Then came the main action of the day when Markram and Miller put together a destructive partnership of 199, during which the former surpassed his previous best score, reached three figures and then recorded the joint-sixth highest individual score by a South African in ODIs – only Gary Kirsten (188*), Faf du Plessis (185), De Kock (178), Janneman Malan (177*), AB de Villiers (176) and Herchelle Gibbs (175) have more than him in an innings.
He was finally out to the stand-out bowler Fred Klaasen (2/43) with the score on 344, with the home side losing Miller next nine short of his ton and then tailing away to set 371.
To their credit, the Dutch chase began smoothly as they managed to reach 151 for two just after halfway of the innings with only a wicket each for Marco Jansen (1/39) and Magala.
Musa Ahmed (61 off 69 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) was the key man at that stage with Max O’Dowd having scored 47 earlier. However, once the former fell to golden boy Markram (2/40), there was little the visitors could do as they tried to keep up with the soaring run-rate.
Magala fully capitalised with his accuracy proving key – four of his five wickets were bowled – as the home side cleaned up the Dutch lower order and tail with more than 10 overs to spare.
Proteas ODI squad against Netherlands
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), 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), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Wayne Parnell (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).
South Africa Betway One-Day International Series against Netherlands
Friday, 31 March at 13:00
South Africa beats Netherlands by 8 wickets – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Sunday, 02 April at 10:00 (Betway Pink Day)
South Africa beat Netherlands by 146 runs – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
IMAGE: Aiden Markram, photo Marcel Sigg 2023 Test Series vs West Indies at the Wanderers
