Opener Aiden Markram struck his second successive hundred in as many games as South Africa scored steadily to reach 199/4 in 50 overs against Board President’s XI on the second day of the rain-curtailed warm-up match in Vizianagaram on Friday.
Markram had earlier scored 161 for South Africa A against India A in a first-class game last week. On the day, he retired after completing his hundred in a game which has not been accorded first-class status. Markram’s innings was an attacking one as he faced 118 deliveries, hitting 18 boundaries and two sixes.
Markram’s good form augurs well for the Proteas as the 24-year-old right-hander was marked as one for the future by India captain Virat Kohli when they toured the Rainbow Nation back in 2018.
Earlier, opener Dean Elgar was snuffed out by senior pacer Umesh Yadav (1/34), caught by Priyank Panchal in the slip cordon. One-down batsman Theunis de Bruyn got one from Ishan Porel (1/11) that jagged back in to trap him leg before.
The talented Zubayr Hamza (22) hit three fours and a six before left-arm spinner Dharmendra Jadeja (2/52) had him leg before with an arm ball. The lesser-known Jadeja from Saurashtra also had rival skipper Faf Du Plessis (9) trapped leg-before.
However, Markram and the dependable Temba Bavuma (55) shared a century partnership to frustrate the hosts. Bavuma hit nine fours in his 92-ball unbeaten knock.
The two pacers who didn’t perform up to the mark were Avesh Khan (0/44 in 10 overs) and Shardul Thakur (0/34 in 10 overs), who shared the new ball with Yadav.
The most impressive among pacers was young Bengal speedster Porel, but unfortunately, skipper Rohit Sharma only gave him a six-over spell during which he got De Bruyn out.
Brief Scores: South Africa 199/4 (Aiden Markram 100 retired, Temba Bavuma 55, Dharmendra Jadeja 2/52, Ishan Porel 1/11, Umesh Yadav 1/31) v BP XI.