Proteas batsman Aiden Markram’s brilliant century at Kingsmead on Sunday may have been aiding a lost cause, but the 23-year-old at least played himself into the history books.
Markram scored 143 – his third Test century – at Kingsmead, briefly giving the home side a fighting chance, which was later snuffed out by Mitchell Starc.
READ MORE: Markram shows that the future is now
The sixth wicket partnership between Quinton de Kock and Markram was worth 147 runs, breaking the previous mark of 117, set by Jonty Rhodes and Brian McMillan against England 20 years ago.
Highest 6th wicket partnership in 4th innings for SA:
147 A Markram & Q de Kock v Aus Durban 2018
117 J Rhodes & B McMillan v Eng Leeds 1998— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) March 4, 2018
Markram’s 143 was also the third highest ever Proteas score in the fourth innings behind the 189* of Bruce Mitchell against England at the Oval in 1947, and the 154* by Graeme Smith, also against England, in Birmingham in 2008.
Highest 4th innings scores for SA:
189* B Mitchell v Eng Oval 1947
154* G Smith v Eng Birmingham 2008
143 A Markram v Aus Durban 2018
136 D Elgar v Eng Oval 2017
134 F du Plessis v Ind Johannesburg 2013— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) March 4, 2018
South Africa require 124 runs for an unlikely victory at Kingsmead.
ALSO WATCH: Markram day four presser
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
