Cricket

South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, expressed pride in his team's performance despite their 11-run loss to India in the third T20I of the four-match series. Markram acknowledged the contributions of the lower order and emphasized the importance of executing their plans."We're proud of the effort to get that close," Markram said. "It was good to see the contributions from the lower order. We just need to execute what we discussed."India's victory was largely due to Tilak Varma's unbeaten century and Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul. Varma's 107 runs off 56 balls included eight fours and seven sixes, while Singh's 3/37 in four overs proved crucial in restricting South Africa's chase.Markram highlighted the challenges of chasing a high total at the SuperSport Park. "This is a ground where you can chase 220," he said. "It's almost an over-by-over thing. If you win those overs, you have a great chance."South Africa's bowlers, led by Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj, had earlier restricted India to 219/6. Abhishek Sharma's 50 off 25 balls and Varma's century were the standout performances for India.In the chase, Heinrich Klaasen (41 off 22) and Marco Jansen (54 off 17) kept South Africa in contention. However, Arshdeep's wickets in the death overs proved decisive.Markram expressed confidence in his team's ability to improve for the fourth and final match of the series. "We will see areas to improve for the next game," he said.

South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, acknowledged the team's batting struggles after their three-wicket victory over India in the second ODI. He emphasized the importance of sticking to their game plan despite setbacks.In the post-match presentation, Markram praised the team's bowling performance, highlighting the execution of their plans. However, he acknowledged the batting's shortcomings, stating, "Sometimes it does not work out and we need to take it on the chin."Markram expressed pride in the contributions of Andile Simlalane and Nqabayomzi Peter, who played crucial roles in the victory. He emphasized the need to focus on each game individually, saying, "We won this game to level the series."The four-match series is now tied at 1-1. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first, restricting India to 124/6 in 20 overs. Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee were instrumental in containing the Indian batters, each taking one wicket in their four-over spells.In the run-chase, India initially dominated, reducing South Africa to 87/6. However, Tristan Stubbs and Coetzee launched a counter-attack, guiding the team to victory with an over and three wickets remaining. Stubbs was named 'Player of the Match' for his unbeaten 47.Markram emphasized the team's commitment to their brand of cricket, despite the batting challenges. He said, "We are going to stick to our brand of cricket."

India vs South Africa T20I Series: A Clash of TitansIndia and South Africa are set to face off in a highly anticipated T20I series, with the first match scheduled for Friday, November 8, at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The two cricketing giants have a rich history of intense rivalry, and this series promises to be no different.Head-to-Head RecordIn the 20-over format, India and South Africa have met 27 times, with India holding a slight edge with 15 wins to South Africa's 11. This series will provide an opportunity for both teams to add to their respective tallies.India's Recent FormIndia is entering the series on the back of a dominant 3-0 series victory over Bangladesh in October. The team has been in impressive form, with key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav in top shape.South Africa's StrugglesSouth Africa, on the other hand, has struggled to find consistency since their defeat in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. They suffered a 3-0 loss to the West Indies and drew 1-1 against Ireland in subsequent series.Young Guns in FocusThe series will also be a platform for young players to showcase their talent. India will be led by the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav, while South Africa will be captained by the promising Aiden Markram. Both teams have a number of exciting young players who could make a significant impact.Match ScheduleThe India vs South Africa T20I series will consist of four matches, with the remaining fixtures scheduled as follows:* 2nd T20I: November 10, St George's Park, Gqeberha* 3rd T20I: November 13, SuperSport Park, Centurion* 4th T20I: November 15, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Temba Bavuma's elbow injury has ruled him out of the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence next Tuesday. Aiden Markram will assume the captaincy in his absence, with the expectation that Bavuma will be available for the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka.South Africa's Test coach, Shukri Conrad, confirmed the decision in Dhaka, stating that Bavuma's recovery has not progressed sufficiently for him to participate in the second Test. The rehabilitation program will be adjusted to ensure his readiness for the Sri Lankan series.It remains uncertain whether Bavuma will remain with the squad in Bangladesh or return home to continue his recovery and participate in domestic red-ball cricket. The first-class competition commences next week, and Bavuma's team, the Lions, will play three matches before the first Test against Sri Lanka.Conrad expressed his preference for Bavuma to stay with the squad, acknowledging his valuable role and the fact that it is still his team. However, he understands Bavuma's family responsibilities and will respect his decision.Bavuma sustained the injury earlier this month during an ODI against Ireland, falling awkwardly while completing a run. He retired hurt on 35 and was unable to field. The injury affects the same elbow that Bavuma injured in 2022 during a T20 tour of India, which subsequently ruled him out of South Africa's tour of England later that year.In Bavuma's absence, Matthew Breetzke, who made his debut in the Mirpur Test, could retain his position at No.6. Alternatively, South Africa may opt for an additional allrounder or bowler in their XI. Left-hander Senuran Muthusamy is a potential replacement, offering both batting and left-arm spin bowling capabilities.South Africa currently holds a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after securing a seven-wicket victory in the first Test.

Temba Bavuma, the South African Test captain, has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. The injury was confirmed after scans revealed the extent of the damage. Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas in Bavuma's absence for the first Test, which begins in Dhaka on October 21.Bavuma's injury is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of a successful tour of Bangladesh. The 32-year-old has been in good form in recent months, scoring a century in the second Test against England at Lord's in August.With Bavuma out, Markram will take over the captaincy for the first time in a Test match. The 28-year-old has captained South Africa in limited-overs cricket, but this will be his first experience leading the team in the longest format.Markram will be supported by a strong leadership group, including vice-captain Keshav Maharaj and senior players Kagiso Rabada and Dean Elgar.In addition to Bavuma's injury, South Africa have also been dealt another blow with the news that Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the series with a lumbar stress reaction. Burger was expected to play a key role in the bowling attack, but his absence will force the Proteas to reshuffle their plans.Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi have been added to the squad as replacements for Bavuma and Burger. Brevis is a highly-rated young batsman who has yet to make his Test debut, while Ngidi is an experienced fast bowler who has played 17 Tests for South Africa.South Africa will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing performance in the ODI series against Ireland, where they lost 2-1. They will be confident of their chances against Bangladesh, who they have beaten in their last two Test series.

South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, opted to bowl first in the opening T20I against Ireland at the County Ground in Bristol. The Proteas fielded a balanced attack featuring four seamers and three spinners, resting experienced pacer Lungi Ngidi.Ottneil Baartman and Lizaad Williams made their tour debuts, while all-rounders Wiaan Mulder and Patrick Kruger completed the seam attack. In the spin department, South Africa deployed left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, legspinner Nqaba Peter, and Markram himself as an occasional offspinner.Ireland, missing captain Andy Balbirnie, handed Ross Adair an opportunity to open the batting alongside Paul Stirling. They also opted for a spin-heavy attack, including left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys, George Dockrell, and legspinner Ben White.Ireland have never defeated South Africa in a T20I, and the Proteas will be keen to maintain their dominance. South Africa's batting lineup features three opening batters, with Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton at the top of the order and Matthew Breetzke at number three.The match promises to be a competitive affair, with both teams looking to gain an early advantage in the three-match series.

In a crucial match that could determine the series outcome, South Africa opted to field first against West Indies in the second T20I in Trinidad. Aiden Markram, captaining his 50th T20I, made the decision under warm and sunny conditions.South Africa made a single change to their lineup, replacing left-arm seamer Nandre Burger with right-arm seamer Lizaad Williams. Teenager Kwena Maphaka retained his spot after a promising debut, while Wiaan Mulder and Jason Smith remained on the sidelines.West Indies, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI from the first game. This meant that experienced pacer Obed McCoy was once again omitted, with Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph leading the bowling attack.The West Indies will be confident in their ability to restrict South Africa after reducing them to 42 for 5 in the series opener. However, a record sixth-wicket partnership between Tristan Stubbs and Patrick Kruger propelled South Africa to a respectable total.West Indies successfully chased down the target with 13 balls to spare, completing the highest successful chase at the venue. They will be eager to replicate their batting performance and secure the series victory with a game to spare.

South Africa's dominance continued on day two of the second Test against West Indies in Guyana, as they extended their lead to 239 runs with five wickets remaining.After dismissing West Indies for 144 in the first innings, South Africa openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar put on a solid 79-run partnership. Markram went on to score 51 before being dismissed by Alzarri Joseph, while Elgar fell for 35 to Jayden Seales.Kyle Verreynne and Keegan Petersen then steadied the innings with a 45-run stand. Petersen was dismissed for 22 by Seales, but Verreynne continued to impress, reaching his half-century off 100 balls.Wiaan Mulder joined Verreynne at the crease and the pair put on an unbeaten 84-run partnership to further strengthen South Africa's position. Verreynne remained not out on 50, while Mulder was unbeaten on 44.For West Indies, Seales was the pick of the bowlers with 3-52, while Motie took 2-61.Earlier, West Indies had fought back in the first innings thanks to a defiant 54* from Jason Holder. The West Indies captain shared a 40-run partnership with Shamar Joseph for the last wicket, which helped them reduce the deficit to 16 runs.However, South Africa's bowlers, led by Lungi Ngidi (4-32) and Marco Jansen (3-49), proved too strong for the West Indies batting lineup.With a substantial lead and five wickets in hand, South Africa are in a commanding position heading into day three. However, West Indies will be hoping to make early inroads with the ball and give themselves a chance of chasing down a challenging target.

South Africa's heartbreaking loss in the T20 World Cup final has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the team, but captain Aiden Markram vowed that the experience will fuel their determination in future tournaments.Despite needing just 30 runs from the final five overs, South Africa's batting lineup faltered, allowing India to snatch a seven-run victory. The defeat marked the first time South Africa had reached a men's World Cup final in either white-ball format.Markram expressed his disappointment, saying, "It's tough. This group is a great bunch of people. They deserve really good things to go their way." He acknowledged the team's strong performance throughout the tournament, winning eight out of eight games before the final."In hindsight, things will still feel really good about this competition," Markram said. "But for the time being, it stings a bit. It gives you that little bit of fire in the belly for the next time that you're here."Markram believes that reaching the final is a significant step forward for South Africa. "It's one step closer," he said. "When we finally win one, there will be a snowball effect of quite a few to come."He praised Heinrich Klaasen's crucial innings of 52 off 27 balls, which put South Africa in a strong position. "It was special," Markram said. "We've seen him do it many, many times around the world. To deliver it on a stage like this is a really special effort."Despite the disappointment, Markram remains optimistic about the team's future. "It's just gut-wrenching," he said. "But we can channel it moving forward. I think for the next couple of days you let it be, you let yourself feel the way you want to feel and then really start reflecting in a positive manner."