SA vs IND 2018, Pink ODI:– Breaks in the middle were blessings in disguise, says Aiden Markram
Published - 11 Feb 2018, 12:53 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:48 PM
SA vs IND 2018, Pink ODI: With the change in color came the change in fortune for the South Africans. With four losses on the trot, Aiden Markram felt the heat at the electric atmosphere of the Wanderers to inspire his team towards victory. After winning the toss, Virat Kohli decided to bat first, and Indians were on course to post a total of 330 riding on the back of Dhawan’s century.
Lightning interruption took away India’s momentum, and a little collapse at the slog overs helped South Africa restrict the Indians to 290. A prolonged disruption allowed DLS method to take charge and the South Africans had to chase down a revised target of 208 in 28 overs.
It all looked downhill for the Proteans with loss of AB de Villiers, but Miller, Klassen, and Phehlukwayo led the charge against the wrist spinning duo of Chahal and Kuldeep. India was sloppy in the field with their no balls, dropped catches and misfields. South Africa, in the end, kept the series alive and kept their record intact in Pink ODI by winning their sixth game.
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Captain Markram during the post-match presentation claimed that the lightning and rain interruption in the middle proved to be blessings in disguise. The stand-in captain praised his bowlers for restricting the Indians to 290.
“Just relieved to have got over the line today. To put some pressure on the Indians is a good feeling and to win is even better. The break out there was a blessing in disguise to break up their momentum. To restrict them to 290 was a great job from our bowlers. The message before today was not to put pressure on ourselves and it is nice to see boys having bought into the plan,” claimed Aiden Markram.
“It is good to have some experience in our middle-order with AB coming back. We need to keep fighting our way; we aren’t at our best yet and need to keep improving. Would love to take pink into our big tournaments as well (laughs),” concluded Markram.
