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msn|22-08-2025
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has expressed his confidence in skipper Aiden Markram by saying that he is just a few games away from achieving the tag of "genius".
"I know it`s a different format, but in the World Test Championship final not so long ago, Aiden showed exactly what he is about. And I`m sure he is a couple of games away from unlocking that state of genius," said Conrad as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"If we want to be brave, we have got to select attacks to beat a team like Australia and if I can nudge a batting unit into playing a certain way where we are a batter light and I concede we were a batter light, imagine what they can do when we have got a properly balanced side," he added.
Aiden Markram, who is struggling with his form in the shortest format, managed to score just 31 runs in three matches in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia.
In the third T20I against South Africa, Australia came victorious by two wickets. Glenn Maxwell played an unbeaten knock of 62 runs off just 36 deliveries, including eight boundaries and two maximums.
Before Maxwell, skipper Mitchell Marsh smashed 54 runs in 37 balls, with the help of three boundaries and five maximums.
Earlier, in South Africa`s innings, Markram departed on one run. Ryan Rickelton, too, returned to the pavilion on the score of 13 runs. Lhuan-dre Pretorious scored 24 runs, followed by Dewald Brevis` 53-run knock. His knock came in 26 balls, including a boundary and six maximums.
On the other hand, Tristan Stubbs scored 25 runs. Rassie van der Dussen smashed an unbeaten 38 runs off 26 balls, which was laced with three boundaries.
With the series level at 1-1 after Proteas Dewald Brevis` stunning maiden century in the second T20I, and a clinical bowling effort leading Australia over the line in the first game, the home side were tasked with chasing down 173 to claim the series.
Australia and South Africa will next lock horns in the three-match ODI series starting Tuesday, 19 August in Cairns.
(With ANI Inputs)