Proteas v West Indies: Three key takeaways as Aiden Markram and Co look to dominate again
West Indies Tour of South Africa
A dominant nine-wicket win over the West Indies has South Africa in the driving seat. From Aiden Markram’s career-best 86* to the exciting style of Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the depth in this squad is looking world-class ahead of the T20 World Cup. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Following South Africa's nine-wicket victory over the West Indies at Boland Park in Paarl earlier this week, cricket reporter Ongama Gcwabe highlights three learnings from the first T20I match, which the South Africans won by nine wickets.
With the second T20I later on Thursday in Centurion, and with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on the horizon, we look at what positives the Proteas must transfer to their next match and what they still need to improve upon.
Proteas form around the SA20
George Linde might have won the Player of the Match award in the first match for his 3/25 in four overs; however, he was not the only Proteas player to show good form.
Captain Aiden Markram, for his unbeaten 86 (a career-best in T20Is), Corbin Bosch for his 2/35 in four overs, and Ryan Rickelton for his unbeaten 40 all showed that there are a number of players in good touch heading into the second match of the series and the upcoming World Cup.
No doubt, the recently concluded Betway SA20 has played an important hand in getting most of the Proteas players in form.
The fringe division: Squad depth
With Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen rested for the first T20I following their involvement in this past weekend's SA20 final, fringe batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius stepped up at Boland Park.
He put together an 83-run opening stand with Markram while smashing 44 off 28 balls. His innings further revealed that the Proteas have several players they could call upon should an injury arise in the T20 World Cup.
Moreover, batter Rubin Hermann might not have had time in the middle in the first match; however, his form in the SA20 speaks for itself. The left-hander is also in fine form, making him a suitable replacement candidate for David Miller, whose fitness is still unclear for the World Cup after picking up an adductor muscle injury in the SA20.
Ryan Rickelton at No 3?
Following the announcement that Ryan Rickelton would replace the injured Tony de Zorzi, many would have wondered whether the left-handed batter could step up and play at number three in the batting order, having spent the majority of his T20I career opening the batting alongside Markram.
However, with coach Shukri Conrad having decided that De Kock and Markram would open the batting, Rickelton would have to drop a spot lower in the order. The left-handed batter had a productive shift at Boland Park, showing that he has the game to adapt to the batting position and that he can make the step up when called upon.