Captain Temba Bavuma was somewhat consoled by opening batsman Reeza Hendricks’ century, after South Africa slipped to a 69-run defeat against India A earlier this week.

Hendricks’ 110 from 108 deliveries at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram featured a dozen fours and one six, but was not enough to prevent the visitors from conceding an early deficit in the five-match series.

He enjoyed help from middle-order batsman Khaya Zondo and wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who added 30 and 58, respectively. Support was severely lacking elsewhere across the order, though.

‘Superb from Reeza. We spoke about someone in the top four going big for us and he was able to do that. He was well supported by Klassen, but unfortunately none of the other batters could get going. But we will take a lot of confidence from the way Reeza and Klaasen went out there,’ said Bavuma.

‘It is obviously disappointing. We came here wanting to start the tour well. We will have a good honest review of where things went wrong. Up to that point we held the game in a good position. Unfortunately we didn’t execute the last phase of the game. I am sure as the tour goes on the guys will improve.’

The second of the five-match series will be played at the same venue on Saturday.

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