Aiden Markram scored a solid 88 and took 3-39 that included the wicket of England captain Eoin Morgan as Hampshire crushed Middlesex by 119 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old is starting to find his rhythm in English conditions, after joining County side Hampshire for the start of their English summer.
His County stint helped him warm up to his surroundings. He scored 63 in his opening four-day match against Essex in Southampton and scored 45 against Yorkshire. But it’s not his long-format skills that needed testing.
After his World Cup call-up, the experience he’ll be picking up during the Royal London One Day Cup will be indispensable.
He had a slow start to the competition. He showed positive signs, scoring 24 and 31 in his opening two matches, but on Tuesday he proved that he had learnt from his shortcomings. Although scoring uncharacteristically slower than usual, Markram contributed 88 off 90 balls (11 fours) to his side’s 301-9.
FIFTY: A first @OneDayCup fifty for @AidzMarkram! ?
A glorious flick through mid-wicket brings four, taking him through to a deserved half-century off just 49 balls – 91-2 (17 overs).
Live stream ➡️ https://t.co/F0D4eNkEi7 pic.twitter.com/73JVXPLCJC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 23, 2019
Markram and Rilee Rossouw (64) were the only Hampshire batsmen to pass the half-century mark, while Liam Dawson scored 43.
The Proteas young opener also showed his ability with the ball, taking three wickets, including the dismissal of England captain Eoin Morgan.
BIG WICKET: Morgan (41) top edges an @AidzMarkram delivery to short fine leg and @Kyle_Abbott87 takes a smart catch! ☝️@Middlesex_CCC 116-4 (21 Overs)
? Live stream ➡️ https://t.co/3BdrhivSis pic.twitter.com/IzKpoPSnwW
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 23, 2019
Middlesex were all out for 182.
The Proteas play two World Cup games at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton against India and the West Indies. Markram’s growing familiarity at the ground will give selectors something to think about when those fixtures draw near.
Photo: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images
