Finally, there looks to be some form at the top of the order for the Proteas ahead of the World Cup.
Aiden Markram top-scored for the Titans in the final against the Dolphins as he led his side to the 1Day Cup title last week, totalling 542 runs - the most in the competition - in five crucial matches in the tournament.
The righthander, who can bat in all top-four positions, plundered three centuries and an 85, averaging 108 with a strike rate of 133.
While he failed to replicate that for South Africa in the second half of the ODI series and T20s against Sri Lanka last month, his ton in the domestic final suggests that he is starting to find the form that has turned him into the side’s new hope at the top of the order.
If he keeps it up, there is less to worry about with Hashim Amla and Reeza Hendricks losing their way as the cut-off for World Cup squads comes at the end of the month, with the England tournament kicking off in late May.
But with concerns around the batting, SA will have to go deep and that’s where the allrounders come in.
Balance is going to be a massive factor for the coach, skipper, and selectors to nail down.
ALLROUND ABILITY: Andile Phehlukwayo. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/Bakcpagepix.
And allrounders will play a huge role to make the team as competitive as possible.
At the moment, there are a number of options for the bosses to look at.
Andile Phehlukwayo looks to have booked his place already with his consistent performances over the summer.
The Dolphins ace has a knack for making key breakthroughs with ball in hand, as shown against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
He mixes up his bowling too and in English conditions, that could be a match-winning combination.
His batting was also useful down the order. And at the end of the international assignments, he helped the KZN side to the final of the recent 1Day Cup final.
The 23-year-old averaged 53.2 in his five innings, which accumulated 266 at a strike rate of 102.7 down the order.
But Dwaine Pretorius and Wiaan Mulder are also in the picture after getting their chances to show what they can do, while Chris Morris and Farhaan Behardien could have played themselves into contention for a World Cup recall.
Pretorius has been a bit-part player in the ODIs, playing five of the 10 matches since December, but showed what he can do with the bat in the T20s with a 77 against Sri Lanka late last month.
Mulder, for all his talent and chances, hasn’t impressed since returning from injury in January.
MATCH-WINNER: Titans’ Farhaan Behardien. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix.
Morris is a maverick who has World Cup experience, but while he is a viable option, he hasn’t convinced this season.
Behardien, though, could be the surprise package of the Proteas squad going to England after last playing for the national side in February 2018.
The veteran batting allrounder has been in great form on the domestic scene recently and could well earn his place after helping the Titans clinch the 1Day Cup.
The 35-year-old made the runs when his team needed it the most and will give the selectors some food for thought.