Opening batsman Aiden Markram relished his century on day two of South Africa’s tour fixture against the Indian Board President’s XI at the Dr PVG Raju ACA Sports Complex in Vizianagaram on Friday.

While quartet Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn Zubayr Hamza and Faf du Plessis failed, collectively managing a mere 43 runs, Markram climbed to 100. His stay spanned 118 deliveries – and featured 18 fours and two sixes.

‘It was nice to spend some time in the middle. As a batter, that’s where you learn the most. It’s always beneficial to be out in the middle. I’m glad some of the other batters got some time out there,’ said Markram.

‘The conditions were good for batting today. It showed, in that everyone who got in managed to get going quite easily. We will take confidence from this, but are aware it might not be like this in the Test series.

Markram found solid support Test vice-captain Temba Bavuma, who moved to 55 not out before bad light ended play prematurely. Bavuma stroked nine boundaries.

‘Temba will obviously be a massive batter for us in the Test series. It is nice to see him hitting some form and getting some runs out there. There are a lot of positives from a day like today. We wish we could have played for longer, though. But it is what it is and we have no control over it. It’s nice to take what we got out of the day,’ added Markram.