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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

West Indies strike back after Aiden Markram's ton

Markram (115) had brought up his sixth Test century after a century-plus opening stand with former captain Dean Elgar (71)

Our Bureau Centurion Published 01.03.23, 05:40 AM
South Africa’s Aiden Markram during his 115 on Day I of the first Test against West Indies in Centurion on Tuesday.

South Africa’s Aiden Markram during his 115 on Day I of the first Test against West Indies in Centurion on Tuesday. Getty Images

South Africa were 141 without loss and then 221/1 after winning the toss and opting to bat in the opening Test against the West Indies at the SuperSport Park.

Aiden Markram (115) had brought up his sixth Test century after a century-plus opening stand with former captain Dean Elgar (71). Yet, the Windies were the ones all smiles in the final session of Day I as they struck seven times to reduce the Proteas to 314/8 at stumps on Tuesday.

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Seamer all-rounder Marco Jansen (17) and debutant pacer Gerald Coetzee (11) will be resuming on Day II.

The West Indies bowlers were erratic in the first two sessions, but Alzarri Joseph’s effort and persistence paid dividends. After breaking the opening stand by dismissing Elgar, Joseph trapped the Proteas’ new Test captain Temba Bavuma lbw for nought and then cleaned up centurion Markram with a yorker.

The South Africans were beginning to feel the pressure after Markram’s dismissal. The onus was on Keegan Petersen and keeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen to wrestle back the momentum, but they couldn’t last long.

A miscued pull had Klaasen perish at the mid-on region off Shannon Gabriel’s bowling. Petersen then departed soon after as he was out lbw off the bowling of part-time medium-pacer Kyle Mayers.

Senior pacer Kemar Roach and all-rounder Jason Holder also took a wicket each for the visitors.

Brief scores: South Africa 314/8 (A. Markram 115; A. Joseph 3/60) vs West Indies. At stumps, Day I.

Written with Reuters inputs

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