Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s brilliant 144 off 118 balls (11×4, 7×6), his fourth ODI century, was not enough as South Africa finished on 281/7 from 41.4 overs, 48 runs short of the West Indies’ target of 335. At Buffalo Park in East London, in the second Betway ODI.
Bavuma’s innings, on the back of Shivnaraine Chanderpaul’s 150 in 1998/99 in an ODI at Buffalo Park, gave the Proteas hope after they slumped from 200/4 to 238/8 as the middle and lower order batsmen took wickets. away with a poor selection of shots.
Bavuma and Quinton de Kock got the innings off to a quick start as they reached fifties in 36 balls,
De Kock was in fine form as he raced to 48 off 26 balls (5×4, 3×6) but perished just before the end of the first powerplay.
The first wicket partnership scored 76 runs, the powerplay 78, and they were well ahead of the run rate required by the Proteas.
Ryan Rickleton, making his debut, contributed 14 but shared a second stand of 47 with Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi, another debutant, looked good for his 27, adding 61 for the third wicket.
But when South Africa reached 200, the innings stuttered and never recovered.
Rassie van der Dussen (8), Tristan Stubbs (6), Marco Jansen (17), Bjorn Fortuin (1) and Gerald Coetzee (1) started the procession back to the dressing room and at 238/8, it looked like the West Indies would wrap things up quickly.
However, a ninth-wicket partnership of 49 between Lungi Ngidi (12*) and Bavuma, in a ninth-wicket ODI in East London, fanned the flames of hope.
Alzarri Joseph struck the killer blow prompting Bavuma to glove a ball up the leg side to wicketkeeper Shai Hope with the score on 287.
This was the ninth wicket to fall and last man Tabraiz Shamsi lasted only two balls as the innings ended.
?? RESULT | INDL WON BY 48 RUNS
Despite captain Temba Bavuma’s superb 118 off 144 balls, wickets at regular intervals stifled the chase as West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the Betway ODI series. #SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/SKVoEXiWW7— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 18, 2023
During his innings, Bavuma crossed 1,000 ODI runs when he reached 90. His century came off 92 balls and gave Rovman Powell a life when offspinner Akeal Hosein fell in the deep midwicket on 108.
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Only Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have reached the 1,000 ODI runs milestone faster than Temba Bavuma for the Proteas?
One good ‘Temba lamarhumsha’ ?? pic.twitter.com/QFj6jqKxJd– SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 18, 2023
Joseph (3-53) 8.4 overs and Hosein (3-59) 10, were the best bowlers in West India. Kyle Mayers, Yannic Cariah and Odean Smith each took a wicket.
THE WIND BASES ON HOPE
Earlier, Antilles, who elected to bat after being duly called, posted a mighty 335/8 thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 128 off 115 balls (5×4, 7×6) from captain Shai Hope.
?? 1st ODI Century as captain
?? 14th ODI century
?? 1st century vs ???? @ProteasMenCSA @shaidhope ?? #MenInMaroon #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/9WjNUfOxPp— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 18, 2023
Brandon King (30), Mayers (36), Nicholas Pooran (39) and Rovman Powell (46) were solid contributors as the Protea bowlers began to struggle with inconsistent line and length.
Speedster Gerald Coetzee, one of four debutants for the Proteas, took 3-57 in his 10 overs, while Shamzi (2-62) and Fortuin (2-57) were the spinners in the 10 overs.
It was tough work for the Proteas bowlers as Lungi Ngidi conceded 76 runs in his 10 overs and Marco Jansen picked up just one victim to make it 774 runs in his entire innings.
It was only the sixth time in ODI history that captains from each team scored a century in the same match.
2?? the captains
2?? the centurions
2??7??2?? running#SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Vr6Z9o1LzH— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 18, 2023
Hope, who was man of the match, was pleased with his team’s effort. “It was a good performance with the bat and the ball and going forward. We have to forget what happened in the past, because every game is a new beginning. There is still one game left in the series and we are not at home yet,” he said.
Bavuma always believed he could create some magic while batting with the Thais, but he was hoping to strengthen his side for the third and final ODI in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
“It was a young team, but I always thought we could get close if we had a couple of strong playoffs. I pulled out unfortunately, but we hope to welcome back Aidan Markram, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen for the next game,” he said.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Tony De Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
WEST: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope (capt, wk), Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Yannick Cariah, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph
