With an epic 136, opener Markram sets marker for a South Africa cricket legend

Some narratives are hard to beat. It was said in commentary that South Africa had never won an ICC trophy. Until another expert corrected and said, "well, they did win the 1998 Champions Trophy, when it was known by another name".

- Rasesh Mandani

Aiden Markram was immersed in the middle at Lord's, else he might have wanted to scream out loud, what about the 2014 U-19 World Cup he led South Africa to a title win in?

But then, Markram is not that sort. All through his 207-ball, 383minute stay at the crease, in which he denied the greatest Test bowling attack there is, to help South Africa get over the line against Australia to the World Test Championship, he never allowed himself to break into a smile. Lest his focus waver, resolve soften.

Not when he got to his eighth Test hundred late on Day 3, not when the Player-of-the-Match was finally dismissed on 136, even though by then his team was within touching distance of history.

Markram had walked in as opener in pursuit of a 282-run fourth innings run chase. When he was finally done and walked back through the Lord's Long Room up to the storied balcony, the standing ovation, the unending applause he received was in appreciation of the greatest knock by a South African batter.