Markram 100 could be match-changing and career-changing as opener still knows that the job is not yet done.
Markram 100 seen him lift his arms, took off his helmet, wiped away a tear, and saw the ball glide through midwicket after flicking Josh Hazlewood off his pads. Perhaps he even let himself believe that he was in the middle of the most important Test century in his career—and possibly in South Africa’s history as well.
His colleague at the other end, Temba Bavuma, sat back and let Markram to process it. Markram saluted the sun as it dived behind the clouds, which did not form through the majority of the best batting circumstances, and he observed with what appeared to be nothing but deep reverence.
The two batters gave themselves permission to celebrate Markram’s accomplishments for a brief moment when they met mid-pitch for an embrace, and you could just hear them encouraging one another. “It’s not done yet,” the bumps on the fists appeared to convey. Furthermore, it isn’t. It’s still 69 runs to victory. There is work to be done, and Markram 100 not out.
However, Markram’s century will go down in South African cricket history as one of the greatest fourth-innings comebacks, regardless of the outcome. In terms of South Africa’s second innings century total, Markram is already surpassed only by Graeme Smith (who scored four). This one might turn out to be the most important.
Both South Africa and Markram were under tremendous strain when it began. Australia increased their overnight total of 144 for 8 by 63 runs in batting conditions that were far better than those of the previous two days. In order to achieve the highest score of the game, South Africa would need to execute the second-highest successful chase at Lord’s. Following a rash 13 off 15 balls in the warm-up match, where he was caught flicking to square leg, Markram was coming off a duck in the first innings as he sliced a Mitchell Starc inswinger onto his stumps.
His first ball was a soft push that got him off strike, and he would face Starc again, this time without a swing. That tap-and-run alone demonstrated that South Africa had a shift in perspective. In contrast to their first innings, where they played extremely defensively against excellent bowling, South Africa this time shown some intention right away.
Markram made advantage of the possibilities that presented itself, even after Ryan Rickelton took a break early and Wiaan Mulder, who was being closely watched at No. 3, entered the game. Before playing Starc off his hips for a leg-side four, he dropped down on one knee and drove him square through point after punching Hazlewood off the back foot through the covers.
However, the tests would be forthcoming. When Nathan Lyon entered the game in the eleventh over, he got one to dip and turn right away. Starc had Mulder caught at cover with a ball that appeared to adhere to the surface after Pat Cummins dragged Markram’s edge, but it didn’t carry. The hardest test came just before tea, when Bavuma staggered through two overs after pulling his hamstring.
It appeared that the run rate may decrease while Bavuma’s injury was treated. The pair’s first post-tea run was a single off a mistimed Markram drive that got him to fifty. The limits came and went, Bavuma’s hobbling became better and worse at different points, and both of them used far tighter approaches to get through Cummins’ and Hazlewood’s menacing stretches.
Additionally, Markram’s classic strength—his excellent off-side play—was on exhibit. He scored 65 runs in that section of the pitch by driving and cutting with assurance. Even while every ball seemed to be an event and it was never easy, he also became more at ease against the turn. As stress increased, Markram spent 22 balls in the 90s.
He arrived seven balls before the end of play, and he celebrated and took the occasion seriously at the same time. It’s finished, yet not. Though he hasn’t finished it yet, he has completed it for himself. Later, Markram claimed to have been “overwhelmed with emotion” as he shed a few tears and gazed up at the skies over London. However, he maintained his composure to lead South Africa to the end of the game and its doorstep. He’ll want to take them over it as well.