Markram defies rampant Australians

Aiden Markram defied a rampant Australian bowling attack as the tourist moved closer to a convincing win on the fourth and penultimate day of the first Test match at Kingsmead Sunday. Opening batsman Markram made 85 not out as South Africa reached 167 for five at tea, a distant 250 runs short of an improbable target of 417. Markram and Theunis de Bruyn, South Africa's two least experienced batsmen, held up the Australians for almost two hours in a fifth wicket stand of 87 after coming together at 49 for four. De Bruyn, playing in his fourth Test, made a stylish 36 before he was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood. It was the only wicket to fall during the afternoon. The damage was done before lunch when Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and captain Faf du Plessis all fell without reaching double figure. Markram and Elgar put on 29 for the first wicket before Elgar edged a sharply lifting delivery from Mitchell Starc to wicket-keeper Tim Paine to be out for nine.

Test century No. 3 for Aiden Markram! He's still only 23 years old! https://t.co/EmxS5cd3fS #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/A9Krczc5Sm

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 4, 2018

Amla avoided a pair but only made eight before he was leg before wicket to Hazlewood. South Africa then suffered a hammer blow when De Villiers, their top scorer in the first innings, was run out for nought. Markram turned a ball from off-spinner Nathan Lyon behind square leg and did not respond when De Villiers called him through for a run. De Villiers had to turn and tried to go back but could not beat David Warner's throw to Lyon. Pat Cummins struck with his third ball of the innings when he beat Du Plessis for pace and flattened his off stump. Markram, in his seventh Test, showed good composure, a sound technique and some cracking off side drives in a 147-ball innings which included 11 boundaries. Earlier, Australia added 14 runs to their overnight total of 213 for nine before being bowled out for 227.

Aiden Markram falls for a brilliant 143 from 218 balls. Mitchell Marsh with the breakthrough for Australia. Can the visitors take the four wickets they need for victory this evening? Follow #SAvAUS live: https://t.co/VjXpm8SmSG pic.twitter.com/1fcq5LVSZt

— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2018

BRIEF SCOREAustralia 351 & 227 in 74.4 overs (Bancroft 53, Maharaj 4/102) lead South Africa 162 & 293/9 in 85 overs (Markram 143, De Kock 81) by 124 runs