Proteas come up short in first ODI

Though the middle and lower order gave it their all, the Proteas came up just short of their target in the first ODI against India in Ranchi yesterday, ultimately going down by 17 runs, with four balls remaining.

- Jacques van der Westhuyzen

While the South Africans, in pursuit of a stiff 350 target to win, made a poor start with Aiden Markram (7), Ryan Rickelton (o) and Quinton de Kock (o) all back in the changeroom with just 11 runs on the board, the other batters gave it a real go but their efforts were just not enough.

"I'm really proud of the boys, of the effort," said Proteas captain on the day Markram.

"The boys were quietly hopeful in the changeroom... we got close, and the guys showed character out there.

"There was a lot of swing early on, so maybe the top order batting was the difference."