Elegance, power marks centurion Markram’s dream debut

Day 2 of 4: Dolphins 207 Titans 379/5

THE TITANS have been able to grab control of this Sunfoil Series match against the Dolphins thanks to some superb performances from two players who will be very much central to the franchise’s future endeavours.

Where day one of the match belonged to 20-yearold fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who claimed 5/39, day two was dominated by 22-year-old Aiden Markram, who, like Ngidi, is making his firstclass franchise debut, and, like Ngidi, crowned the match with a landmark achievement.

Markram scored 162 and in a stay at the crease that lasted nearly five and a half hours, displayed the rich array of his batting talent.

Markram, who famously led the SA Under-19 side to the junior World Cup title in 2014, had struggled to make an impression at the franchise and at one stage it was believed he was going to ply his trade over- seas. However, with the Titans losing a clutch of players in the off-season, including Theunis de Bruyn to the Knights and Graeme van Buuren, to England, the door opened for Markram.

Still he had to wait his turn while Dean Elgar opened in the first two rounds of the competition, but given his chance, he’s made an emphatic statement.

While yesterday scoring was somewhat easier than on the first day, Markram and opening partner Heino Kuhn had to survive a torrid last hour on day one against some determined Dolphins bowling, led by an effervescent Craig Alexander.

Markram showed class in seeing off that threat and after a brief delay at the start due to a wet outfield at SuperSport Park, he flourished.

A player with plenty of time at the crease, he drove the ball with an alluring mix of elegance and power and when the Dolphins bowlers attempted to test his back-foot play, the pull was displayed ferociously.

Kuhn was happy to let his younger teammate dominate the morning, but when offered the chance to score, he did so confidently. The Dolphins were worn down as much by the glittering array of strokeplay as they were by the sheer dominance from Markram.

He went to his century by thumping left-ar m spinner Serunan Muthusamy over long-on for six and despite losing Kuhn – out for 88 – after the pair had shared a partnership of 203 for the first wicket, continued on his merry way as the Titans asserted their dominance.

He shared a 120-run stand for the second wicket with Grant Mokoena, who overcame some poor form in the first two matches to notch up a well-made 70.

Markram’s star shone brightest. He was eventually well caught at short cover by Sarel Erwee off Muthusamy for 162 that included 19 fours and that six, having faced 218 balls.

The Dolphins bowlers toiled away on a day in which the pitch was certainly easier to bat on than was the case in the first session on Thursday.