Markram set to learn from ton slip

PROTEAS opening batsman Aiden Markram has admitted to have been “bitterly disappointed” when he was given out six runs shy of his third Test century on day one of the second Test against India at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

Markram was unlucky to be dismissed on 94 after he edged the ball slightly and was caught behind by Parthiv Patel from the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin, as India began to make inroads in the second session of play.

The 23-year-old reviewed the umpire’s decision immediately but he was just delaying the inevitable as the UltraEdge system showed that the ball came off his bat.

“I was bitterly disappointed to get out that close to a hundred‚” Markram said.

“It is now the second time in a short space of time but I am just going to keep on saying it is part of the game and keep trying to be positive if I can.

“Next time I get into a similar situation‚ I will take lessons and hopefully I will be able to get through to three figures.

“It was a bit of a nothing shot.

“It is something that I have tried to put in the past and my next challenge is to try and save runs in the field with my fielding.”

When he was given out‚ Virat Kohli had a brief chat with him and gave him a pat on the back to console him, and Markram said it was a nice tough by the Indian captain. “He came over to say ‘well played and unlucky’ .

“It was a great from him.

“He is a massive competitor and it is great to see that he has good values‚ which is something that people might not always see.

“It was nice‚ a great gesture and it did mean a lot.”

Asked to comment on touch the strangely slower Centurion pitch‚ Markram said they would have preferred more pace and bounce but it still had something for both the batsmen and bowlers.

“Generally there is good bounce here but it lacked that extra pace that the usual SuperSport Park [has].

“It is a wicket where the contest is always happening, but we would have liked it to be a bit quicker.

“The game is pretty much even right now.

“I still thought we showed good fight by winning the toss and batting first.

“Ideally‚ we would not have liked to lose those wickets in the third session but it is part of the game and we remain positive‚” he said‚ adding that it was tough facing Indian spinner Ashwin, who was assisted by the slow pitch.

“He is a smart bowler and he sets good fields in combination with Virat Kohli.

“It is never against him.

“He is a world-class bowler and it is a good challenge to be out there and face him.”

Ashwin‚ who took three wickets on the day‚ said there was spin in the morning.

“I haven’t played a Test match here in Centurion [and been] surprised, but there was a bit of spin in the morning because it was damp.

“I was told that it is generally damp on the first session of a Test match here.

“It did spin a bit but it was not outrageous‚ it was very slow‚” he said‚ adding that he had worked very hard to improve his game.

“I have worked on making my action more repeatable and I use my wrist more when I release the ball.

“These things have combined very well over the last few years, and I hope that by the end of the series I will be a far better bowler.” easy