Former South African skipper Graeme Smith has heaped praise on Aiden Markram after he delivered a stellar performance on Day Three of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s. Markram remained unbeaten on a magnificent 102, guiding South Africa to a commanding position in their fourth-innings chase of 282. South Africa only need 69 runs to end their ICC title drought. Aiding Markram strongly was skipper Temba Bavuma, who played a captain’s hand with a hard-fought 65 not out. 

“We've seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match. The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game. It's been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you've seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface,” Smith said as quoted by ICC.

Markram and Bavuma together added 143 runs, putting South Africa in a dominant position. 

“And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma). Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying 'extend that partnership, extend that partnership'. And that's what they've done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship."

Smith further praised Markram’s confidence and his shot selection. 

“The performance that he put in, (it) was incredible to watch right from the get-go. He looked at good positions. He had one punch of the back foot. You thought, 'Okay, the man's here today.' Him and Temba will be feeling drained tonight. They still have got 69 to get. But I think tonight it's important to celebrate a great partnership and an incredible hundred."