Markram ton, Bavuma fifty prop up SA in warm-up game

VIZIANAGARAM: Opener Aiden Markram struck his second successive hundred in as many games as South Africa scored steadily to reach 199 for 4 in 50 overs against Board President’s XI on the second day of the raincurtailed warm-up match here 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 he future by India captain Virat Kohli when they toured the rainbow nation back in 2018.

Earlier, opener Dean Elgar was dismissed by 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 plumb in-front.

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. He also had rival skipper Faf du Plessis (9) trapped leg-before. However before that, Markram and the stodgy Temba Bavuma (55) had a century partnership. The slightly built Bavuma also 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), who got a bit of stick and Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur (0/34 in 10 overs), who shared the new ball with Umesh.

The most impressive among the pacers was young Bengal fast bowler Ishan but Board XI skipper Rohit Sharma gave him a six-over spell during which he got De Bruyn.

Brief scores: SA 199/4 in 50 overs (A Markram 100 retd, T Bavuma 55, D Jadeja 2/52, I Porel 1/11, U Yadav 1/31) v Board Presidents XI

GANGJEE IN LEAD

KOBE (JAPAN): Defending champion Rahil Gangjee moved into sole lead at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship with a flawless eight-under 63 while Ajeetesh Sandhu climbed to tied sixth here on Friday.

Sandhu holed an ace and then parred the next six before snatching a final birdie on way to 66.