Markram ton, Magala five-for lift Proteas to massive win over Netherlands

A mammoth maiden century from Aiden Markram, along with a maiden five-wicket haul from Sisanda Magala helped the Proteas clinch a massive 146-run win over the Netherlands in the third and final Betway ODI at DP World Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.

Markram slammed his way to a brilliant 175 off just 126 balls, crashing 17 fours and seven sixes to power the Proteas to a mammoth 370/8 in their 50 overs batting first.

The Netherlands could only respond with 224 all out, as Magala finished with top figures of 5-43 in nine overs, with four of his scalps bowled in a superb showing of accurate fast bowling.

Chasing a big total meant the Netherlands needed to get their chase off to a good start and opener Vikramjit Singh tried to do that as he struck five boundaries in a quickfire 21 off 18 balls, but was then bowled by Marco Jansen with the score 23/1 in the fourth over.

This brought innings top scorer Musa Ahmad (61) in to join Max O’Dowd (47) and they set about resurrecting the innings with an 85-run second-wicket stand.

Having taken their side past the hundred run mark in the 17th over, the Netherlands then lost their second wicket at the start of the 19th as O’Dowd chopped on a ball from Magala to reduce them to 108/2.

Ahmad found another willing partner in Wesley Barresi (29) and they took their side over the 150-run mark in the 26th over, with them well in the chase at that stage.

However Markram couldn’t do any wrong, with him introduced into the attack and immediately picked up the important wicket of Ahmad in his first over, with a stunning catch from Heinrich Klaasen sending the batter on his way.

That breakthrough started a regular procession of wickets as the Netherlands lost their last eight wickets for 73 runs to fall well short of the Proteas score in the end.

Magala played a large part in that as he picked up four of those eight wickets, while Markram picked up another as well to end with figures of 2-40 for a brilliant all-round performance.

MARKRAM AND MILLER SHOW

In the Proteas innings it was a fantastic 199-run fifth-wicket partnership between Markram and David Miller, who crunched 91 off 61 balls (9x4; 4x6) that set them up for their massive score.

Miller arrived at the crease to join Markram with the Proteas on 145/4 in the 26th over, and they built a platform as they moved the score to 230/4 after 38 overs, with Markram reaching his century along the way.

The two then decided to unleash as they hammered 113-runs off the next seven overs as they powered the Proteas to 343/4 at the end of the 45th over.

Both batters fell in quick succession as Markram found the fielder at long-on off the bowling of Fred Klaasen, while Miller (91 of 61 balls) skied Paul van Meekeren straight up to take the catch off his own bowling to end the fun as they slipped to 347/6 at the start of the 47th over.

At the start of play the Proteas' innings got off to a poor start as they lost two wickets in the powerplay.

Openers Temba Bavuma (6) and Quinton de Kock (8) both struggled to get going before Vivian Kingma had them both caught, by Wesley Barresi and Tom Cooper respectively to reduce the Proteas to 32/2 in the eighth over.

This brought Markram to the crease to join Rassie van der Dussen (25) and they set about rebuilding the innings with a 62-run third wicket stand.

But as in the previous ODI on Friday, having gotten himself in and looking in decent nick, Van Der Dussen then got himself out, pulling a wide ball down the leg side straight to Van Meekeren off the bowling of Aryan Dutt with them on 94/3.

Heinrich Klaasen (28) was next in and combined with Markram for a 51-run partnership, which included him reaching his half century in style with a big six over the deep square leg boundary.

Just as they were looking to kick on Klaasen tried to pull a short ball from Shariz Ahmad, only to get a top edge for keeper Scott Edwards to run around and take a good catch to send him on his way.

However this brought Miller in to join Markram and they combined for a monstrous partnership to smash the Proteas into a position of dominance.

After both batters lost their wickets the lower order managed to knock a few extra runs to get the Proteas to their final total.

South Africa have now done their part in the Cricket World Cup Super League ??

All eyes on Ireland and how they do against Bangladesh ?? pic.twitter.com/840fdIivFF

— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) April 2, 2023

SOUTH AFRICA: Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

NETHERLANDS: Vikram Singh, Max O’Dowd, Musa Ahmad, Wesley Barresi, Scott Edwards, Tom Cooper, Shariz Ahmad, Aryan Dutt, Vivian Kingma, Paul van Meekeren, Fred Klaasen