Aiden Markram’s determined knock of 125 at St George’s Park is our Play of the Day.
It’s not often that Test veterans of the quality of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers are given a lesson in temperament and patience by a youngster of 23.
DAY ONE REPORT: Markram, Morkel lift Proteas
Markram contributed to three crucial partnerships on day one of the Test against Zimbabwe, and ultimately set the platform for a competitive team total of 309-9 declared. The opening stand yielded 72 runs, the third-wicket partnership with AB de Villiers 94, and the fourth-wicket partnership with Temba Bavuma 78.
Markram took his time – 175 balls en route to a century – to build an innings and may have cracked on to a more substantial score if not for a sharp catch by Brendan Taylor shortly before the dinner break.
The upshot is that Markram has scored 280 runs in his first four Test innings. The 125 at St George’s Park marked his second century. If only he wasn’t run-out on 97 in his debut game against Bangladesh earlier this year, Markram would boast the perfect conversion rate.
That said, an average of 95 after four innings is not too bad at all …
.@AidzMarkram reflects on the day. #ProteaFire #SAvZIM #DayNightTest pic.twitter.com/cT2yuIGEDD
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 26, 2017
.@AidzMarkram compares facing the red ball to the pink ball. #SAvZIM #ProteaFire #DayNightTest pic.twitter.com/NUcsqpcuIh
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 26, 2017
.@AidzMarkram on the pink ball, the red ball, AB taking the gloves and Zimbabwe as an opposition. #ProteaFire #SAvZIM #DayNightTest pic.twitter.com/yafEaC30Hj
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 26, 2017
Photo: Derick Foster/BackpagePix
