IND vs SA: Aiden Markram scripts history, becomes first visiting opener to achieve this feat vs India in a decade

South Africa batter Aiden Markram became the first visiting opener to score an ODI century in India in 10 years  during the second match of the series. He went on to play a superb knock of 110 runs, including ten boundaries and four sixes as the Proteas got off to an incredibly strong start to their run-chase of 359 in Raipur.

Notably, the previous visiting batter to score an ODI hundred in India was Quinton de Kock, who scored a ton on Indian soil back in 2015. This was also Markram's first century as an opener in ODIs, with his other three coming while he was batting at No.4. Though he was dismissed cheaply for just seven runs in the first ODI, he followed that up with a terrific knock.

Markram and Bavuma's important stand

After de Kock fell early in the fifth over for just eight runs, the duo of Markram and Temba Bavuma formed a brilliant partnership of 101 runs to steady the innings. Both the batters played splendid shots, but the latter ended up missing out on his half-century by a whisker and got dismissed for 46 by Prasidh Krishna in the 21st over. 

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However, the fall of Bavuma's wicket didn't stop South Africa's run-flow as Markram then formed a robust partnership with the in-form Matthew Breetzke.  A 70-run stand between the two saw Markram complete his hundred and the Proteas reach very close to the 200-run mark with a little more than 20 overs still left.

Harshit gets the much-needed wicket

It was Harshit Rana who eventually got the massive wicket of Markram. The batter guided the ball straight towards Ruturaj Gaikwad at long-on, who completed an easy catch and sent him back to the pavilion. Though Markram lost his wicket at a  crucial stage of the match, South Africa still have enough depth in their batting order to easily chase down the mammoth target. It remains to be seen if they will be able to take the series into the deciding third fixture.

Meanwhile, the third and final ODI of the series between the two teams will be played at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on December 6.