South African batter
Aiden Markram made his comeback in grand style, notching up his sixth century on Day 1 of the
first Test against West Indies at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Markram, playing his first Test since August 2022, put on a masterclass smashing 115 from 174 deliveries with the help of 18 boundaries.
The 28-year-old formed crucial partnerships with former skipper
Dean Elgar and number three
Tony de Zorzi before West Indies fought back and derailed the Proteas’ momentum by picking wickets at regular intervals.
Markram added 141 runs for the opening wicket with Elgar, who scored 71, including 11 boundaries. The right-handed batter then built an 80-run stand with De Zorzi for the first wicket. However, the tourists returned and destroyed the South African batting unit.
West Indies picked up seven wickets for 79 runs in the final session as the hosts finished the opening day at 314/8 in 82 overs. Fast bowler
Alzarri Joseph was the chief architect, bagging a three-wicket haul for 60 runs in 16 overs.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed it’: Markram on his brilliant century
It was definitely a special hundred for Markram as he became teary-eyed after reaching the triple-figure mark. The Centurion-born admitted that he had thoughts about whether his Test career had ended.
“You do go through moments where you doubt yourself and wonder if you’ll ever get the opportunity again. I’ve always loved test match cricket and red-ball cricket and was grateful that the coach and the captain backed me and for the day to work out the way it did. I think my biggest emotion was that sense of relief, knowing that you can still compete in this format at this level. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were moments of luck here and there. But just grateful it worked out,” said Markram after the end of the day’s play.
“I suppose it might have helped a bit from a confidence point of view. I think the way the game is going now, you’d rather be positive and not reckless, but you still want to take the game on and express yourself as much as you can. And I think when you get a bit tentative, you can sort of dig an unnecessary hole for yourself,” added Markram.
Here is how Twitter reacted: DAY 1⃣ | STUMPS ?
After taking control of the game and heading to Tea on 206/1, the West Indies fought back in the final session as we close out the day on 3⃣1⃣4⃣/8⃣
#SAvWI #BePartOfIt — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)
February 28, 2023
West Indies have roared back into this Test match ?
? A brilliant Markram century
? 7 wickets fall in final session
#WTC23 |
#SAvWI | ?:
https://t.co/gUTbzlPZ7j pic.twitter.com/zNm60FNBUV — ICC (@ICC)
February 28, 2023
Emotional moment for Markram as he raises his bat for the personal milestone but, for SA, the first individual 100 in 17 innings is definitely something to celebrate.
#SAvWi — Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
February 28, 2023
Hundred for Aiden Markram, returning as a Test opener after 1 year, he has made it count with a fantastic knock.
A special talent, Markram.
pic.twitter.com/sShqykk9sY — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
February 28, 2023
Stumps, Day
Markram's solid ? and Joseph's
-fer has left the first
#SAvWI test in the
?? – 314/8
pic.twitter.com/ouXUDS0Bk4 — Pretoria Capitals (@PretoriaCapsSA)
February 28, 2023
Aiden Markram – welcome back to Test cricket! ?
Wonderful century, his first for 2 years and his 6th overall ?
#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/y6XgFpnMs1 — ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
February 28, 2023
The beauty of comebacks like this is worth all the setbacks along the way. This is going to be Aiden Markram's year.
pic.twitter.com/bfwasOsn6I — Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla)
February 28, 2023
Aiden Markram registered his 6th Test century – a great knock by Markram!
pic.twitter.com/hkMdaUCVz3 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
February 28, 2023
Marala Vachhenu Naayakudu ?
Mana Markram makes a remarkable comeback with a ? against WI ?
#SAvWI #OrangeArmy |
@AidzMarkram pic.twitter.com/U1g7ejIapi — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
February 28, 2023
Hundred for Aiden Markram. His 6th Test hundred, he scored 103* runs from 154 balls including 17 fours against West Indies.
Brilliant hundred from Markram!
pic.twitter.com/WcqyHxw49V — CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh)
February 28, 2023
Hopefully this is where Aiden Markram turns into this all-format genius that he's supposed to be.
But I'd give this up if that's what it takes for him to continue to be a T20 beast. I love his T20 game. But again, hopefully nails all three.
#SAvWI — Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN)
February 28, 2023
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