Magic Markram slams Proteas to big score against Netherlands

A huge maiden ODI century from Aiden Markram helped the Proteas amass a big 370/8 in their 50 overs in their ODI against the Netherlands at Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Markram hammered his way to a brilliant career best 175 off just 126 balls, slamming 17 fours and seven sixes, as he shared in a brilliant 199-run fifth wicket partnership with David Miller, who smashed 91 off 61 balls (9×4; 4×6), that set them up for the imposing total.

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

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

Both batters fell in quick succession as Markram found the fielder at long-on off the bowling of Fred Klaasen, while Miller 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 47^th over.

Poor start

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.

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, with the Proteas 145/4.

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, and the Netherlands will now have to chase down an unlikely 371 to try and win the match.