Ranchi, Nov. 30 -- South Africa captain Aiden Markram expressed pride in his team's ability to get really close to India's target of 350 despite the top-order failure in the first India vs South Africa match of the series on Sunday in Ranchi.

Chasing 350, the Proteas were reduced to 11-3 in 4.4 overs, with Aiden Markram gone for seven and both Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton gone without scoring. However, a spirited middle- and lower-order fightback turned the contest into a nail-biting affair:

Matthew Breetzke (65 off 72) and Dewald Brevis (53 off 55) launched a superb rescue act, adding crucial runs and keeping the required run rate in check, before both fell to Kuldeep Yadav.

All-rounders Marco Jansen (82 off 65) and Corbin Bosch...