Following South Africa's narrow defeat to India in the first ODI in Ranchi, stand-in captain Aiden Markram lauded the efforts of his team's middle-order batsmen. Despite falling short by 17 runs, Markram expressed pride in the fightback displayed by the likes of Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch.
India emerged victorious in a high-scoring encounter, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India, after losing the toss, were put in to bat and posted a formidable total of 349/8 in their 50 overs. Virat Kohli's magnificent 135, supported by Rohit Sharma's 57 and KL Rahul's 60, formed the backbone of the Indian innings.
South Africa's chase began poorly, slumping to 47/3 early on. However, the middle order responded strongly, staging a remarkable comeback attempt. Matthew Breetzke top-scored with 72, while Marco Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) also made significant contributions. Their efforts kept South Africa in the hunt until the very end, taking the game to the final over.
"Really proud of the fight the guys showed," Markram said in a post-match interview. "We were in a tough spot early on, but the middle order showed great character to bring us back into the game." He specifically praised the partnerships forged by Breetzke, Jansen, and Bosch, highlighting their composure and ability to handle pressure.
Markram also acknowledged the areas where South Africa could improve. "We need to start better with the ball and reduce the number of extras we concede," he said. "And with the bat, we need our top order to lay a better foundation." South Africa also missed their regular captain Temba Bavuma, with Markram stepping in to lead the side. Markram had won the toss and elected to field first, expecting dew to be a factor later in the evening.
India's Kuldeep Yadav was particularly effective, claiming four crucial wickets to disrupt South Africa's momentum. Harshit Rana also chipped in with three wickets. Despite the strong showing from the South African middle order, India's bowlers ultimately held their nerve to secure the win. Rohit Sharma took the final catch to seal the victory for India.
Looking ahead, Markram stressed the importance of learning from this game and bouncing back stronger in the second ODI. "We know we have the quality to compete with India," he said. "It's just about executing our plans better and being more consistent throughout the 50 overs." The second ODI will be played in Raipur.
