As he scored an incredible century against India in the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town, Aiden Markram produced one of the greatest knocks in Test cricket history.
On Day 1, Aiden Markram batted till stumps in the second inning after being removed for just two runs in the first. He finished on 36 of 51 balls. Despite having taken seven wickets, South Africa was trailing India’s advantage in the first innings by 36 runs. On Day 2, the Proteas would have hung hard for Markram to turn his strong start into a massive score.
When Jasprit Bumrah removed David Bedingham with the final ball of the first over on Day 2, the hosts’ chances of winning were all but gone. After taking 23 wickets on Day 1, the surface continued to give no indication of improvement as wickets continued to tumble at the opposite end. Markram, though, was unfazed and continued to add significant runs to South Africa’s total with some outstanding shots.
The right-handed batsman used a counterattacking style to help his team overcome India’s 98-run lead in the first inning. Markram continued, hitting his sixth century in Test cricket off just 99 balls. He guided Bumrah through a ravine in search of a border to reach the enchanted three-figure mark. Markram scored an incredible century that will go down in Test cricket history on a field that prevented any batter from reaching a half-century. Virat Kohli approached the South African opener and thanked him for his outstanding achievement.
When Markram failed to center a slog off Mohammed Siraj and the ball lofted up into the safe hands of Rohit Sharma at long off, his innings eventually finished at 106 from 103 balls. As the 29-year-old was making his way back to the pavilion, the crowd at Newlands gave him a standing ovation.
Here are some reactions from the fans to Aiden Markram’s elegant century:
GEM inning!
Probably one the best century in recent time in test cricket. Take a bow Aiden Markram
#INDvsSA #INDvSA #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/LDEuA1IrxZ
— Shivam Dubey (@ShivamDubey45) January 4, 2024
Markram scores his 7th hundred in test cricket, his first against India at a staggering strike rate of 103 in a pitch where rest batsmen from both sides have scored highest of below 50 and one side has been all out for 55 .
What an innings– will be remembered forever… pic.twitter.com/2Mm5bD21YF
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) January 4, 2024
INCREDIBLE HUNDRED FOR AIDEN MARKRAM…!!!!
He smashed 102* runs from 99 balls against India in second Test match in tough situation pic.twitter.com/Pcve11xCdn
— Muhammad Noman (@Nomancricket29) January 4, 2024
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Aiden Markram’s remarkable comeback included a stunning century against India in the final Test, marking an exceptional return to form!#SAvIND #INDvSA #India #SouthAfrica #Test #Century #AidenMarkram #CricketBook pic.twitter.com/sLgqrB2qn4
— Cricket Book (@cricketbook_) January 4, 2024
The King Validates
What a moment it is for Aiden Markram #INDvsSA #PAKvAUS #ViratKohli𓃵 #JaspritBumrah #Markram https://t.co/g9ta1ZvRRz pic.twitter.com/sauDSuBABg— Cypher (@cypher_twitty) January 4, 2024
India
