Aiden Markram lost his wicket after a dogged 74 off 224 balls just before the close of play, as South Africa were reduced to 187-4 on Day 3 with a small lead of 29 in their second innings of the 1st Test against Pakistan in Karachi, writes Khalid Mohidin.
The Proteas played with an approach that was needed given the match situation. They were patient and calculated, the low strike run rate of under 2.50 an indication of their hard work. They went into tea trailing by 74 runs.
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Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen played with a little more authority after the break, finding the boundary more often as well as rotating the strike more frequently, tiring out the Pakistan bowlers as planned.
Markram passed his highest score in Asia and first half-century in the sub-continent, bringing it up in 158 balls balls (6 x 4).
The reverse swing came into the equation midway through the final session, but the Proteas seemed to read it quite easily.
Van der Dussen followed Markram a little more briskly, bringing up his 50 off 123 balls (3 x 4), as the Proteas unravelled the deficit.
The pair put on an incredible partnership after losing Dean Elgar in the 17th over to put SA down 1 for 44. They scored 127 off 310 balls, in what was an impressive display of Test batting.
Unfortunately, when he came forward to defend a slower Yasir Shah delivery, it popped up off the bat to mid-off. He departed after an anchoring 151-ball 64 (5×4).
Faf du Plessis never followed the example of his teammates before him, he failed to play forward and was trapped lbw on the back foot.
Markram’s fight came to an end with just 2 and a half overs left in the day, he was dismissed on 74 (10×4).
The Proteas ended the day on 187-4 with a lead of 29 and Quinton de Kock and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj at the crease.
Photo: Cricket South Africa
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