Rickelton and Markram’s Opening Stand Lays Winning Foundation

A productive 92-run opening stand between Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram was the foundation upon which South Africa built their match-winning total in their 98-run victory over Australia. The partnership put the hosts on the back foot from the very beginning.
Rickelton scored a brisk 33, playing the role of the aggressor early on, while Markram anchored the partnership before accelerating. Their understanding and rotation of the strike frustrated the Australian new-ball bowlers and set a perfect platform for the rest of the innings.
By the time the first wicket fell, the Proteas had a strong base to launch from. This allowed the incoming batters, like Temba Bavuma (65), to play with less pressure. The value of this start was evident in their final total of 8-296.
This early dominance with the bat meant that South Africa was always ahead of the game. It allowed their bowlers, especially spinner Keshav Maharaj, to attack freely, knowing they had a substantial total to defend.