Morkel, Markram put South Africa in charge

Aiden Markram hit his second century in three Test matches and Morne Morkel took three top-order wickets with the new ball as South Africa took charge of the first day of the four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe at St George’s Park on Tuesday (December 26).

Markram made 125 and the returning AB de Villiers, standing in as captain for the injured Faf du Plessis, struck a brisk a half-century on his comeback as South Africa declared on 309 for 9. Then, Morkel made the most of the favourable bowling conditions under lights to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 30 for 4 in the 16 overs possible.

Morkel trapped Hamilton Masakadza leg before wicket with the first ball of Zimbabwe's innings, had Chamu Chibhabha caught brilliantly at slip by Temba Bavuma for six, while Brendan Taylor was caught behind for a duck.

Vernon Philander then got into the game, trapping Craig Ervine leg before for four.

Ryan Burl, the debutant, was batting on 15 not out, while Kyle Jarvis had four. Morkel’s figures read 3 for 20.

Earlier, put in, South Africa got off to a good start with the openers, Markram and Dean Elgar adding 72 for the opening wicket, before the Zimbabwe seamers pulled things back slightly.

Markram — who was run out for 97 in his first Test innings against Bangladesh in September, before making 143 in the first innings of his second Test against the same opponent — continued his dream run. He began cautiously, taking 104 balls to reach fifty, but accelerated to post his century off 175 balls.

He added 96 for the third wicket with de Villiers (53 off 65 balls) and 78 for the next with Temba Bavuma (44). He struck 14 fours and two sixes in his 204-ball effort before he fell to Jarvis on the last delivery of the second session.

After that, however, even as the lights came on for the final session of the day, the home side collapsed, losing five wickets for 58 runs.

That perhaps prompted de Villiers’s declaration, and it proved to be an astute decision, as a total of nine wickets fell for 88 runs in the final session.

De Villiers, who hasn’t played Test cricket since January, also had to take the gloves as Quinton de Kock, the regular wicketkeeper, strained his hamstring.

South Africa left out Dale Steyn for this Test, while Faf du Plessis, the regular captain, too missed out through injury.