‘Best innings ever by a South African’: Kevin Pietersen hails Aiden Markram’s Lord’s epic as Proteas lift WTC crown | Cricket News

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has hailed Aiden Markram‘s match-winning century in opposition to Australia at Lord’s as the best innings ever performed by a South African batter in Test cricket, inserting the Proteas opener’s gritty knock above all others within the nation’s lengthy red-ball historical past.Markram scored a chic 136 off 207 balls within the fourth innings to assist South Africa chase down 282 and beat Australia by 5 wickets within the World Test Championship remaining — ending their 27-year-long look ahead to an ICC title.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket,” Pietersen, a pundit on JioStar, declared. “It might not go down as the most attacking or entertaining, but when you factor in the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary.”

Praising Markram’s psychological energy, Pietersen added, “He lost Rickelton early, yet still went on to produce something truly magnificent. When your country is counting on you and you have to deliver — that pressure is immense.”

Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who took a nine-wicket match haul, referred to as Markram a “big-match player” and praised his composure underneath stress. “His presence, the way he dominated his space, and stuck to his game plan without wavering was just brilliant,” Rabada mentioned. “It wasn’t a pitch where you could be loose. He handled all their plans, traps — off-side, leg-side — with amazing focus.”Former quick bowler Dale Steyn additionally lavished reward on the crew’s efficiency. “Rabada, Starc, Cummins — big names delivered, but Markram and Bavuma finishing it off made it special. I’m thrilled for South Africa — they’ve finally won a trophy they’ve been chasing for a long time.”He additionally famous the weird crowd dynamics: “Lord’s backed us. Maybe the Ashes rivalry played a part, but that support mattered.”