Cricket
Malan ton not enough for a win─── 08:50 Wed, 13 Jul 2022
Janneman Malan struck a century and there were attacking 50s from David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen as the Proteas began their tour of the United Kingdom with a six-wicket loss to the England Lions in their first warm-up match in Taunton on Tuesday.
Opener Malan hit 103 off 116 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes) at the Cooper Associates County Ground where South Africa amassed 318 for nine after winning the toss and batting.
There were also runs for Reeza Hendricks (36) and Aiden Markram (31), before Miller (55 not out off 36 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and Klaasen (51 off 35 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) combined well late on to lift the tourists to an impressive total.
“It was a good first middle scenario out and I think it was important for me to spend some time in the middle and also get some runs,” Malan said after the game. “It’s all part of the build-up so it was good for the batters to be in the middle and get use to the conditions.
“David and Klaasy they batted very well, they finished the innings nicely and they look in good form.
“We always saw today as just time in the middle for the boys, time on the feet. They were obviously prepared well and they played well, but we saw this as a proper warm-up game and it will be more competitive in two days’ time.”
The hosts comfortably chased down the target thanks to half-centuries by Will Smeed (90), Tom Banton (57), Ben Duckett (85) and Stephen Eskinazi (52 not out).
The South Africans used eight bowlers in the game, which was not classified as an official List A match, meaning they were allowed to give their entire squad a chance to participate.
Andile Phehlukwayo was the most successful of the bowlers, claiming two for 45 in five overs.
Malan says they will now reflect on their outing, before moving forward.
“We’ll have a look once it’s competitive and everyone’s fresh and ready,” he added. “They’ll (the bowlers) obviously have their learnings from today, but we’ll reflect and be better prepared for the next one.”
The Proteas play their second match of the tour against the same opponents at New Road in Worcester on Thursday. That match is an official one and will get underway at 11:00 local time (12:00 SAST).
They play world champions England in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting on 19 July.
