Markram: “It’s a nice feeling to win on the sub continent”

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Proteas stand-in test captain Aiden Markram has described South Africa’s first test win in 10 years on the sub-continent as a special moment for him and his team. The Proteas overcame Bangladesh with a seven-wicket victory in Mirpur on Thursday morning, to take a 1-nil lead in the two match series. 

The Proteas bowled Bangladesh out for 307 early in the first session of day four, with Kagiso Rabada the chief destroyer as he got the big wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 97 as he attempted a shot that would’ve got him to a century. Before that, Rabada trapped Nayeem Hasan leg before with Wiaam Mulder taking the wicket of Taijul Ismal. The home side reached 307 in 89.5 overs with the Proteas needing just 4.5 overs to take the final 3 wickets in the first session.

Needing 106 for victory, the Proteas got over the line in 22 overs with Tony de Zorzi top scoring with 41 runs (52). Kyle Verreynne was voted player of the match for his 114 runs knock in the first innings, his second test century for his country. Meanwhile, Rabada finished with a 9-wicket haul in match where he reached a milestone 300 test wickets for South Africa. 

This is South Africa’s first test win on the sub-continent since a 153-run victory over Sri Lanka in 2014. Markram has described it as a special feeling for the entire squad and emphasised the importance of maintain this performance for the second test of the series in Chattogram on 29 October.

“I don’t think it is something that we as South Africans will ever take for granted, it’s a nice feeling to win here. For me now I have been playing for a couple of years and have never won in the Subs (Sub continent), so it is a special moment for us. Having said that, I think the biggest thing you take from it is the belief and confidence that you can actually do well here as a team. I believe that’s where a lot of the game is played, is from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. I think that will help the team a lot for us moving forward, to see if we can put together back-to-back performances together because that’s ultimately what makes a really great team, and I look forward to those challenges in the second test,” said Markram.

“It’s special, a pretty young group or slightly inexperience group to come to the sub continent and get a win is great for us and the environment. It creates a nice buzz in the changeroom and gives us the belief that we can compete in conditions where the odds maybe seem to be stacked against us. It does a lot for us, and gives us a taste of what playing Cricket in the sub is like, what playing Cricket in Bangladesh is like and excited us for the challenges that we possibly face ahead.”