Aiden Markram has reached a career-high 19th position in the latest ICC Test Batsmen rankings after a stellar century against Australia in the first Test at Durban.
The South African opener, who penned an overseas deal with the Club last week, equalled his Test best 143 against the Australians.
His marathon knock, which came off 218 balls & spanned nearly six hours at the crease, gave South Africa a slight chance of reaching the 417 runs required after finding themselves 49/4.
Markram anchored the innings alongside Theunis de Bruyn & Quinton de Kock, putting on a stand of 147 with the latter to take them within 140 of victory.
However, Mitchell Marsh took the prized wicket of Markram & South Africa fell well short to go 1-0 down in the series.
It continued Markram’s fine start to life as a Test cricketer, his third century in 12 innings since scoring 97 on debut against Bangladesh in September.
The right-hander’s average now stands at a lofty 57.91, a record he’ll want to improve even further throughout the four-match series.