Proteas allrounder Wiaan Mulder enjoyed a superb outing against the Sri Lanka Board XI on Thurday.
With the South Africans facing Sri Lanka in the first ODI on Sunday (6.15am) in Dambulla, Mulder and fellow newboy Reeza Hendricks stole the show for South Africa in their 63-run victory.
Mulder was the standout performer, though, scoring 56 runs off 57 balls and also claiming bowling figures of 3/12 in 4.1 overs.
Of his match, he says: “It’s a special day for me - it’s pretty much what an allrounder wants to do, to contribute in all departments.”
Mulder believes the Proteas are now ready to put the pain of losing the Test series behind them and he expects the pitches to provide more of a contest in the ODIs.
SA battled with the dusty tracks in the five-dayers, but Mulder says: “I think it [the pitches] might turn a little bit more than this one - this fair indication of what the wickets are going to be like.
“It was a pretty decent wicket to bat and bowl on, so it was great preparation, I’d say.
“There are a couple of guys that can take a few things from this game into the series.
“As a team I think we are ready, there’s not much more we can do.
“The sooner the series starts, the better for us.”