KARACHI: Although South Africa were disappointed with the result of the first Test which Pakistan won by seven wickets in Karachi, Aiden Markram overcame the fear of batting on the turning subcontinent pitches by putting up a dogged fight against match-winning spin duo of Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali.

The 26-year-old opener not only emerged as South Africa’s highest individual scorer across both innings, the right-hander compiled a painstaking 74 which is his maiden half-century in Asia, during the second innings at the National Stadium.

But for someone who averages close to 47 — 46.74 — Markram wanted to prove a point after tours to India and Sri Lanka were more like giving out telephone numbers — 0, 19, 7, 14 (against Sri Lanka), 5, 39, 0 and 0 (versus India) — mustering 84 runs in eight knocks over a period of 15 months.

He has now accumulated 1620 runs with four centuries and eight half-centuries in 23 Tests since his debut against Bangladesh in September 2017. The opener resisted long and hard to graduate with honours after playing the longest in terms of time (307 minutes) — barring the 353-minute vigil of Fawad Alam for his match-winning 109 — spent at the crease during the series opener.

Unfazed by the abject surrender when South Africa lost their last nine wickets for 70 runs, Markram held hopes of an improved show in next week’s final Test at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi during the virtual media conference.

“Obviously it was good in the sense because I’d not scored much in subcontinent conditions. But I’ll take it like a small step in the right direction,” Markram, the only South Africa captain to win a cricket World Cup trophy in shape of the2014 ICC Under-19 title, said. “Still a long way to go in term of learning not only for me but for the rest of the guys as well because one has got to know more about batting and growing in conditions here.”

Markram observed it was tough going when he and Rassie van der Dussen (64) were together in the middle while almost guiding South Africa to a state of complete dominance.

“But it was a worthy experience for both of us. During our partnership [127] we kept pushing each other against the quality spin bowling of Pakistan’s. It would have been ideal if we had kicked on from there,” he said. “But the confidence point of view, that innings gave lot of satisfaction for the next match.”

Markram’s last Test century came almost three years ago. “Yeah, it was a worrying point nonetheless. I was nearly there {getting dismissed only 15 balls before stumps were drawn or the day]. The wicket was slow and got lower as the match progressed and the longer one stayed it was like a huge challenge, getting used to balls not just spinning but keeping low.

“It was different sort of challenge altogether out there since no longer worried the rate of scoring but surviving as much as you can. I thought the wicket was got to bat on as long as you didn’t lose the focus. But overall, it was a fine learning curve.”

Markram also had a share in his partnership with van der Dussen because their second-wicket was the highest of the match and it carried South Africa into the lead, but to no avail in the end.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021