Elgar's 71 and Markram's 115 guided SA to put 314-8 at the end of 1st day's play

On Tuesday, On day one of the first test match between South Africa and West Indies, the Proteas' right-handed opener Aiden Markram smashed his 6th test ton to power SA to post 314-8 after the day's play. It was a long waited comeback for the Indian T20 League-based franchise's new skipper Markram in the longest format of the game, who made his return in red-ball cricket after a long wait of one year. While batting amazingly in his comeback match, he hammered West Indies bowlers all across the ground.

28-year-old Aiden Markram's test career has been spectacular so far. Although he wasn't selected or given many opportunities to represent SA in red-ball cricket the last year. But as soon as he was included in the team for this series against West Indies, he played amazing innings with his bat. Markram has played so far 34 matches in his test career. He has scored 2117 runs with the help of 6 centuries and 9 half-centuries.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first South Africa's new skipper Bavuma's side got a solid start off 141 runs for the first wicket with the courtesy from both the openers as the former skipper of the side Dean Elgar played an important knock of 71 off 118 balls that included 11 fours in his innings before he was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph.

On the other hand, Other Proteas batters failed to dominate with the bat in the first innings apart from Elgar and Markram, not even a single batter crossed the thirty-run mark. From 221-2 to 300-8 the side collapsed in clusters and lost their 7 batters under the score of 80 runs within 24 overs. 

Markram who was the star of the day for SA with the bat showed his class by scoring 115 off 174 balls that included 18 fours in his magnificent innings. Meanwhile, It was a disappointing start for the new skipper of the side Temba Bavuma with bat who departed on duck after barely facing 2 balls and became the third victim of Alzarri Joseph. 

Marco Jansen on 17 and Gerald Coetzee on 11 holding the crease for Proteas at the end of the day's play on 314-8. For the Windies, Alzarri Joseph took the most wicket on the first day of the play the side by taking 3 for 60 runs whereas; Roach, Mayers, Gabriel & Holder got 1 wicket each.